Per reports, the management of Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja has restricted access to Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South).
It could be recalled that the popular politician was remanded in the facility for failing to produce former chairman of the Presidential Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina.
This was after he stood as surety for in his ongoing N2 billion pension funds fraud trial so as we speak, Ndume is being held in the facility pending the sale of his N500m bail guaranty property.
The report, according to Daily Trust stated that some serving and former lawmakers were at the prison to see Ndume on Tuesday, alongside two serving senators.
It was revealed in the report that Senator Ishaku Elisha Abbo (PDP, Adamawa) was heard telling Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah (APC, Kebbi) at the vicinity of the prison that the officials of the correctional centre required approval of their controller to allow access to Ndume.
The office of the officer in charge of the prison, G. U. Ochepa was heard telling a lawmaker that;
“There is a temporary suspension of visit to the facility because of COVID-19. It is not a punishment to the lawmaker. Only lawyers and his wives are supposed to be allowed to see him.”
After the lawmaker left the Prison Officer’s office, he also said;
“In all my years of practice, as a lawyer this is the first time I’m seeing this kind of situation. What I know is that if the surety is unable to produce the suspect, the person will forfeit the bail bond.
The bail bond is a very clear court document and there is nowhere it suggest even by implication that you can substitute a surety for accused person.”
Source: ghgossip.com
