The Intention Of The Kirikiri Beauty Pageant Was Not To Glamourise Or Make Heroes Out Of Criminality ― NCoS

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has said it is sensitive to the plight of victims of crime and their families and will not indulge in any activity to assault or undermine their sensibilities.

The declaration was made in Abuja by its Public Relations Officer, Mr. Francis Enobore. He was reacting to misgivings in some quarters about the participation of Miss Chidinma Ojukwu, who emerged winner of a beauty pageant held by the service earlier in March.

The pageant was held at the Kirikiri, Lagos, custodial centre to mark the 2022 International Women’s Day.

Miss Ojukwu is standing trial as a prime suspect in the murder of Super TV Chief Executive Officer, Usifo Ataga, in 2021.

Enobore stated that the NCoS identified with the Atagas in their moment of grief and would do everything within its power to assist the course of justice in uncovering those behind Ataga’s murder. “

The intention of the pageant was not to glamourise or make heroes out of criminality,” he stated.

He added that the pageant in question was one of a series of events at the ceremony that featured competitions in dancing, singing, bead making, and costume design, among others.

Furthermore, the event was intended for internal consumption within the custodial environment and was never intended to be widely publicized, “Enobore stated.

He also said that prizes were won by other inmates equally facing charges for heinous crimes.

Enobore added that the service believed that controlled social engagements did not interfere with the trial of cases in court as activities within custodial centres had no bearing on the evidence needed for cases to be tried.

For the record, psychosocial engagements have traditionally been part of the service inmate treatment regimens designed to provide the emotional stability needed to promote the total well-being of inmates and enhance the safety of custody, he stated.

“He recalled that several internationally-recognised artistes like Sam Okposu, Onyeka Onwenu, Alabi Pasuma, Denrele, and Lamboginny, among others, staged lavish concerts at the Kirikiri and Ikoyi male custodial centres in the past to fete inmates. “

In the year 2000, to be specific, a TV station covered a musical concert for male inmates at the Ikoyi Custodial Centre.”

At the concert, Dr Sola Fosudo, Head, Department of Art & Music, Lagos State University, praised the performance of inmates and commended NCoS personnel for their effort.

“These events, beyond the venial of entertaining criminals and suspects, provide avenues for generating actionable intelligence to address some knotty issues under investigation.”

“The intelligence community has severally benefited from this service,” Enobore stated.

He also addressed the issue of alleged squalor in male custodial centres and stated that females account for less than 1.5 percent of the total national population of about 70,000 inmates in custodial centres.

Therefore, overcrowding and the attendant chaos are exclusively found in male custodial centres due to pressure on infrastructure, “Enobore stated.”

Enobore added that the Service believed that controlled social engagements did not interfere with the trial of cases in court as activities within custodial centres had no bearing on the evidence needed for cases to be tried.

For the record, psychosocial engagements have traditionally been part of the Service’s inmate treatment regimens designed to provide the emotional stability needed to promote the total well-being of inmates and enhance safe custody, “he stated.

He recalled that several internationally-recognized artistes like Sam Okposu, Onyeka Onwenu, Alabi Pasuma, Denrele, and Lamboginny, among others, staged lavish concerts at the Kirikiri and Ikoyi male custodial centres in the past to fete inmates.

In the year 2000, to be specific, a TV station covered a musical concert for male inmates at the Ikoyi Custodial Centre.

At the concert, Dr Sola Fosudo, Head, Department of Art & Music, Lagos State University, praised the performance of inmates and commended NCoS personnel for their effort.

“These events, beyond the venial of entertaining criminals and suspects, provide avenues for generating actionable intelligence to address some knotty issues under investigation.”

The intelligence community has severally benefited from this service, “Enobore stated.”

Therefore, overcrowding and the attendant chaos are exclusively found in male custodial centres due to pressure on infrastructure, “Enobore stated.”