@csrf
Daniel Igbah

03.04.2022 Featured Guard Who Committed No Crime Spends 5 Months in Prison — ‘Because Someone Must Be Held Accountable’

Published 3rd Apr, 2022

By Emmanuel Uti

Headfort Foundation, a prison reform organisation in Nigeria, has recounted how Daniel Igbah, an Obafemi Awolowo University graduate, spent over five months in prison for committing no crime.

In a phone conversation with FIJ, Headfort said Igbah did not commit a crime but was made a scapegoat.

Igbah was at his post on November 14, 2021, when he had the urge to visit the restroom. He then asked his supervisor to man his duty post in his place. Still in the restroom, Headfort said, people alarmed Igbah that a thief had cut off a cable wire. He dashed out and, together with the other security guards, chased the thief who escaped through the fence.

READ ALSO: After 26 Months in Prison, Widower Unjustly Arrested by Police Regains Freedom

“The following day, the head of the depot security team asked Igbah to follow him to the Apapa Police Station. Although the thief left the wires behind, the security head wanted him to file a complaint. At the station, the security head alleged that Igbah was the thief. He insisted the police detain and prosecute him,” Headfort said.

“The police detained Igbah in their station and charged him to court. He was later remanded in Ikoyi Prison. He could perfect his bail but could not engage a lawyer because he had no money left.”

READ ALSO: After 21 Months in Prison, Shoemaker Wrongly Accused by Lagos Police Regains Freedom

Headfort said the prosecutor referred Igbah to their mobile office at Ebute-Meta, where he met Juliet Mma, the Headfort Foundation lawyer who would take his brief.

Headfort said Mma’s findings showed that the security head had reported Daniel because he needed someone to be held accountable. He said this was according to the company’s policy.

“On March 21, 2022, his third appearance at the Ebute-Meta Court, Juliet Mma secured his release. The court discharged and acquitted him,” Headfort said.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


Published 3rd Apr, 2022

By Emmanuel Uti

Advertisement

Our Stories

Adeleke Accuses Tinubu’s Nephew Oyetola of Hatching Monday Mayhem Plan in Osun

NIUK Shares Dubious Election Results With Hours-Late Clarification

Boss Claimed Edo Man Committed Suicide at Work. Corpse Showed Otherwise

UNIZIK Students Can Be Punished for Offences Without Conclusive Proof of Wrongdoing

24 Hours After FIJ’s Story, Afriex Credits Customer’s Wallet With Missing N220,000

Nigerians, Data Disagree With Tinubu Adviser’s Claim Food Is Cheaper

Robbers Attack UI’s Obafemi Awolowo Hall, Take Students’ Gadgets

Police, Army Mute 2 Weeks After Retired General Tsiga’s Abduction

Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun

Policemen Cry Out as Failure to Pay N10,000 Bribe Costs Them Promotion

Nigeria’s January Oil Output Falls 500,000 bpd Short of Target

Advertisement