Against the media reports that some high-profile inmates also escaped during the recent attack on the Kuje Prison, Abuja, the spokesperson for the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Umar Abubakar, confirmed that they were still in custody.
Abba Kyari
Abba Kyari, Deputy Commissioner of Police and former head of the IGP Intelligence Response Team (IRT), was arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) over his alleged involvement in the 25 kg cocaine deal.
He is being remanded at the prison on the order of a Federal High Court. A federal high court had on March 28 remanded Kyari and four others at a correctional centre after their bail application was refused.
Joshua Dariye
Joshua Dariye, a former governor of Plateau State, was sentenced to 14 years in prison after being dragged to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over money laundering and alleged diversion of about N1.26 billion.
The sentence was later appealed, and eventually, the Supreme Court gave a final verdict of a 10-year sentence for the offence committed. He was serving his sentence in Kuje, but on April 14, 2022, the federal government granted him a presidential pardon. However, he is still in custody while perfecting his exit, according to Daily Trust.
Peter Nwachukwu
Peter Nwachukwu is the husband of the late gospel singer Osinachi. A Federal Capital Territory High Court had ordered that he be remanded in Kuje Custodial Centre pending the hearing and determination of the alleged homicide charge filed against him by the Attorney-General of the Federation.
Abdulrasheed Maina
A former chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Force Team is being remanded at the Kuje Custodial Centre, pending the conclusion of his trial. The EFCC is prosecuting him on N2bn money laundering charges.
Jolly Nyame
Jolly Nyame is a former governor of Taraba State. He was charged with N1.64 billion fraud and admitted to misappropriating N180 million out of N250 million meant for stationery in Taraba State, and offered to return the same. Nyame was convicted in 2018 and sentenced to 14 years in Kuje prison. Like, Dariye, Nyame was also granted a presidential pardon, though he is still in custody.
Wadume Hamisu Bala
Popularly known as Wadume, he is a kidnap kingpin. He was based in Taraba state but operated across the northern part of the country. He was arrested in August 2019 by the IRT, and a preliminary investigation revealed that he supplied arms and ammunition to terrorists. Wadume was arraigned on June 8, 2020, along with six others on a 13-count charge bordering on terrorism and remanded in Kuje.
