Rights Group Facilitates Release Of Three Inmates from Afara Prison

A group, Brothers Across Nigeria has facilitated the release of three inmates from Umuahia Medium Security Custodial Centre, Abia State.

The inmates are Uchenna Ebulu ‘M’ 21yrs and Chisom Uzor ‘M’ 28yrs and others.

The release of these inmates who were arraigned before a Magistrate court in Bende and Umuahia for stealing alumaco glass window valued at N220,000 and 12.5 kg gas cylinder valued at N25,000 comes after months of unrelenting efforts.

State Chairman of the association, Chief Bar. Kelechi Eze accompanied by Chief Barr. Uche Igwe and Barr. Emeka Okike, who disclosed this on Friday during the release of the prisoners, said that the gesture was part of the association’s legacy projects.

He explained that the gesture to release the inmates is out of love and compassion of the group for the less-privileged, especially those who were in prison for bailable offences.

As stated by Kelechi Eze, “The motivation behind these humanitarian services to inmates is to render assistance to those who may have been wrongfully detained particularly for
those offences or crimes that are not very serious in nature. Some inmates spend so many years in awaiting trial for misdemeanor. Sometimes they even spend more years than they would have actually spent if they were convicted on arraignment. Most of these people do not have anybody to stand for them. We have decided to be the voice of the voiceless.

Bar. Eze maintained that not all the inmates are guilty of the offences they were accused of. One of the core values of Brothers Across Nigeria (BAN) is to defend the disadvantaged and the vulnerable members of the society. BAN views charity as one of its fundamental principles.

“I was at the Abia State High Court, Umuahia yesterday, while waiting for my client’s case to be called up, another criminal matter was called up wherein a young man in his early 30s was beaten up by some vigilante personnel and they caused the young man to be brought to court for assault simply because he is an underprivileged member of the society. I was inspired to enter appearance and defend him. Eventually he was granted bail by the Court.

“At the end of the day our group was able to secure his release and he was granted bail.

“So this is what Brothers Across Nigeria do for the less privileged in society.

“Since the inception of our organisation, we have carried out various medical and humanitarian outreaches and sponsored the release of inmates with minor crime charges in major correctional facilities across Nigeria.

“Our vision is to see a society where dignity of man is restored and ex-convicts becomes part of sustainable solutions to peace and security, and a mission to rehabilitate, empower and reintegrate ex-convicts into the society: through a wide range of advocacy, representation, trainings, and support programmes”.

The Global President of Brothers Across Nigeria Engr. Azubuike Onowu has always opined that it takes courage and leadership to do what is difficult, but right. As opposed to doing what is easy, but wrong and he has always believed that for over 52 years since the formation of Brothers Across Nigeria, the Brotherhood has indeed held on to the very original tenets upon which the Brotherhood was based.

Speaking with TheWHISTLER, one of the release inmates, Uchenna Ebulu, who commended the group for the kind gesture, said, “Is only God that can help and bless them. They came to my life at the point of need and God will come to their life at the point of their need. May God continue blessing them. I don’t know them but God knows them.

He also identified the loss of his parents at an early age and youthful exuberance as some of the factors contributing to crimes.

acknowledging the crime he says, ” Though i actually stole the item from our wealthy king but i have learnt my lessons. I did it out of frustration to assist in my parents burial then.

“These teams of lawyers are God sent, I never hired them. They just saw me in court and discovered that I don’t have anybody standing for me. They took it upon themselves to secure my release.

“I’m really very very grateful to them. Crime is never the best.

He advised other Nigerian youths to distance themselves from acts capable of implicating them.

Brothers Across Nigeria is a charitable/nonprofit organisation that seeks to advance some public benefits such as education, poverty alleviation, scientific research, environment, diversity, religion, health and of course Human Rights Activism.