Indications emerged yesterday that the
fundamental rights and dignity of female inmates
at the Owerri Prison are now being violated
following allegations that they are subjected to
intimate abuses, which sometimes allegedly
result to unwanted pregnancies.
But the allegation was denied by the Prison
authority, which described it as untrue and
malicious.
However, it was gathered that some of the
female inmates, who were not pregnant as at
the time they were convicted, have been
delivered of babies. But prison sources said that
some of the female convicts were pregnant
before they were imprisoned.
A source, who did not want her name
mentioned, alleged that some of the female
inmates, especially those who are still awaiting
trial, "buy" their freedom to move about with
intimate gratification with some "corrupt prison
officials", who thereafter allow them to access
privileged comforts denied other.
The source said: "The babies delivered by these
inmates are either illegally adopted or outright
sold to operators of baby factories. This has
been going on for a long time and the authorities
are not ready to check the menace," asking:
"How else the situation could be explained, that
a convict could be impregnated without the
knowledge of the prison officials? It is either
that they are allowing their spouses to come and
sleep with them in the prison or they are being
impregnated by those who control them."
When contacted, the prison's Public Relations
Officer, Mr. James Madugba, said that the
allegation could not be true.
Madugba said: "I am speaking authoritatively, it
is impossible to penetrate the female cell, which
is constructed in such a way that it will be
difficult for the female inmates to mingle with
their male counterparts.
"Female inmates are kept in a different building
with its own big gate guarded by female prison
officials who are instructed not to allow male
officials into the building. Female inmates who
were pregnant when they enter the cell are given
adequate care. When time of delivery comes, we
take them to the Federal Medical Centre where
they deliver their children, after which they return
to prison with their babies.
"intimate abuse does not arise, it is simply not
possible. You cannot even see the female cell
from the open compound; it is entirely
segregated from other parts of the prison.
"How can the spouse sleep with their convicted
wives when they are not given the opportunity
to be alone? When they visit, there are female
Prison officials to listen to their discussions and
the cell is finally closed by 6:0pm to visitors."
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