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In a shocking disclosure over the weekend, four victims of the Imo State Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) property saga, now known as the NUJ-4, after emerging from 12 days of unlawful imprisonment, have revealed a disturbing web of corruption, torture, and human rights violations within Imo State’s judiciary and correctional facility.
The ordeal began on November 28, 2024, when the four residents of the Imo NUJ quarters were arrested and imprisoned without trial, following a disputed property case involving the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) secretariat and a certain Anglican priest, Rev. Engr. Godson Nlemchukwu.
Despite an existing court order restraining any action on the property, the four citizens were forcibly bundled away from the premises and detained in prison.
What followed was a harrowing experience that lifted the veil on the dark underbelly of Imo State’s correctional system. The four victims, in an elaborate press conference, revealed a systematic extortion scheme within the prison walls, where inmates are subjected to brutal torture if unable to pay arbitrary fees of up to N20,000 upon arrival.
One of the NUJ-4 members narrowly escaped death after being severely beaten by cell leaders for failing to pay the illegal fee. More disturbing was the revelation that these extortion practices allegedly goes on with the knowledge and participation of some corrupt prison wardens, who reportedly share in the proceeds.
The case has exposed how court officials, particularly a certain Chief Bailiff, Mr. Onyekachi Uba, allegedly abuse their positions for personal gain. The bailiff, who has been accused of illegal property confiscation, reportedly boasts of being “untouchable” due to his connections to powerful figures in the state.
The journalists’ testimonies paint a picture of a justice system where court orders are manipulated, and public officials brazenly engage in corruption with impunity.
The case began with a disputed property sale but has evolved into a broader exposure of systematic corruption within Imo State’s judicial and correctional institutions.
The NUJ-4 have now called for immediate action, demanding the arrest of both the said priest and the Chief Bailiff, the return of their confiscated property, and a thorough investigation into the circumstances leading to their unlawful imprisonment.
Their experience has sparked widespread outrage and calls for reform in the Imo judicial and correctional systems. The case further highlights how the pursuit of justice can be derailed by corrupt officials working in concert with influential individuals.
The revelation of these practices has prompted the attention of national and international human rights organizations, demanding state authorities to address these serious allegations of corruption and human rights violations.
Contacted, the spokesman for Owerri Correctional Centre, Goodluck Uboegbulam, said he was not aware of any such foul practices in the facility.
He however blamed the victim for not reporting the crime to the prison authorities, stressing that the authorities of the Correctional Centre had zero tolerance for such misconducts.
The NUJ-4’s ordeal may have ended, but their story has opened a Pandora’s box of issues that demand immediate attention from state authorities. Their experience serves as a powerful reminder of the urgent need for reform in Nigeria’s judicial and correctional systems.
