by Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
THIS IS MY STORY
Interestingly, but hazardous to tell, the story of oneself as part of the Second Year ‘Anniversary’ of my incarceration as journalist in Nigeria Correctional Services (NcS), Kaduna Centre, formally known as Kaduna Convict Prison.
It all started with an objective investigative news report anchored by my humbleself and published in a widely circulated Daybreak Newspapers online edition of September 24th 2023, to be precise.
The contentious story was titled: ‘Kaduna Hajj Camp, a national shame: men, women sleep together in overcrowded hall – investigation.’
Indeed, the focus of the story was on the deplorable condition of Kaduna Mando Hajj Camp, and the poor organization of the 2023 Hajj exercise, also overtly condemned by the Amiru Hajj, Emir of Zazzau, His Royal Highness, Nuhu Bamali.
Even though, relevant authority at the Mando Hajj Camp, especially the Executive Secretary, Yusuf Yakubu A, was directly contacted and his inputs well represented and incorporated into the investigative news report, the story still landed me in prison remand, through an “arrangee.”
My prosecution travail began with a phone call from the “Operation Yaki,” a Nigeria Police formation formed to curb crimes in Kaduna State. It was so uncalled for and odditive that a refined ex-Nigeria Police Boss, late IGP Solomon Arase, got involved and demanded me to brief him of the matter, from ‘Genesis to Revelation,’ as the then Police Welfare’s Chairman.
On 25th September, 2023, or thereabout, a call came through unknown caller later identified as Officer Haruna, an Investigating Police Officer, under Kaduna State Police Command.
The call came in the morning hours of Friday, asking me to report to the Station concerning a petition against my news reports. Incidentally, it became obvious to that the phone number used to verify the information from Hajj Camp authority must have been supplied to the overzealous police officers to fetch me ignorantly against the working of journalists.
Automatically, I knew I was going to be fetched to face injustice instead of justice. As an experienced understandable Journalist, I had no reason not to submit myself before law enforcement agents’ invitation.
Before then, I have had several other invitations, including to IGP Office at Abuja Force Headquarters, and was even detained and tortured at CID Police Division, in Kaduna State, where I practiced.
Incidentally, I had Goodwill kinds of messages or paper to present at the popular House of Justice, Barnawa office in Kaduna on the day I was invited by police, at an annual event organized by an erudite fearless female Human Rights lawyer, Barrister Gloria Ballason.
When I informed the IPO of the House of Justice event, he was magnanimous and quickly obliged me to appear after the occasion, which was okay by me – it was also an opportunity for me to promptly inform the female lawyer, Barr. Ballason, about my invitation by the Police over my news report, after my goodwill message.
Immediately I informed Barr. Ballason at the end of my presentation, it became a case of interest for the female Right Activist lawyer, who promised to follow-up with me immediately her event is over. So, I finished and left her place straight for Police Station, located along Constitution Road, to answer police invitation.
Long before I got there, I put up calls and informed officials of the State Council of Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), including the Correspondent Chapel officials, but none of them deemed it fit to do the needful. And none of them came or asked me to wait until they called and hear the reasons from the relevant police authority before going, or go with me, which has been the normal procedure and practice, for an experienced NUJ leadership.
So, I went all alone and reported myself. On getting there, I was shown photocopy of my news report on 2023 Mando Hajj exercise, as the bases for my invitation. I insisted of waiting for my lawyer before putting down any statement regarding the matter. However, owing to the visibly restless police officers, perhaps because of their own vested and selfish interest, I had to commit myself into writing a statement.
Indeed, I reluctantly wrote a statement after calls and waited sometimes without anybody arriving from Barr. Gloria Ballason to advise accordingly. After some kinds of back-and-forth, for and against, it was concluded that I should be detained in their facilities.
Hours later, a friend brother journalist working with New Nigerian Newspapers (NNN) came to the Police Station to take my bail, but was reluctantly rejected after several efforts and please, and left. But before he left he was able to inform the spokesman of Kaduna State Police Command, ASP Mansir Hassan, who also came, but was unable to secure my bail and left pretentiously.
However, later in the same night I was called out for release due to pressure from above, especially NUJ national, but I reluctantly declined for fear of security of my life. The police insisted in my release, after granted my bail through my NNN journalist brother, who was later called back to sign my bail.
The IPO drove and dropped me somewhere close to my house in his car after my release from cell in the depth of the night.
The story of how my money was manipulated is also entirely a different one. When I was released I was, however, asked to be reporting back, which I complied for sometime but was again asked to wait until I’m called.
I went to Police Station twice within the period. The third time visit, with a lawyer, was met with accusation of “jumping bail” and “touching face of my phone,” while standing with them under Mango Tree outside the Station, and was, therefore, taken for detention again, but was later given a date to go and come for arraignment in court.
Through an was “arrangee,” I was arraigned before the Chief Magistrate’s Court 2, Daura Road, with N2 million fine and 2 sureties, very close to closing hour. All efforts to meet up with a N2 million bail condition was impossible, and I later remanded in prison custody.
Entering entrance prison premises was not without issues and news, as the Fulani prison staff screening officer accused me of the reason for writing about corruption in Hajj Camp. “Are you the only journalist who sees corruption in the Hajj Camp?” he asked me, with furious facial appearance.
Attempt to reply him in same coins was, however, cut short, when another Prison Officer, who arranged us before the screening officer, tapped me below the belt – warning that any attempt to be rude to him would result to dumping me in the convict inmate cell. So kept I withdrew my answers with boiling heart and screen, went on with insults before I was taken into the prison premises.
On a long quene into the inmate convict cell, I was called back to come, and shown the way to the class cell where you’ve some mattresses for “respected cell inmates,” even though, they were flat.
On entering into my cell after necessary registrations, someone immediately recognized my face and told them my profession, that, “This man is a Journalist.” Instantly, many of cell inmates started itching to talk with me, a development that cut attention of the cell IGP Police, who incidentally was in our cell.
The inmate, who recognized me and others, were reprimanded and sanctioned, why other inmates wanting to discuss with me without waiting for the normal indoctrination is performed, were warned seriously.
They pleaded and apportioned blames to one another, but were later granted pardon by IGP and Commissioner of Police in the cell. But immediately after my indoctrination, inmates in my cell started coming to me one after another.
The first one introduced himself as a staff of either FRCN or NTA Kaduna, I can remember very well. He promised to give full briefing of his offense but later withheld, on grounds that frantic efforts were on top gear to finally release him.
The second person was addressed as Bishop, who was but a visionary for telling me openly that imprisonment was not for my offense but as “messiah” brought there to release him from the prison he had already first 4-5years term, and remaining 5-6 more years’ terms to spend as alleged “political prisoner.”
To cut the long stories short, he offered me his sleeping mattresses to share with him, pending the time of my own, and briefed me all through the night for reasons of his imprisonment. He appeared financially rich and influential inmate. Even inmates from other cells, who learnt and me and wanted to start penetrating our cell late, were prevented.
Even though, every inmate was allowed fresh air outside the cells at certain hours, my case was different – I was not allowed out of my cell. Any attempt made to be out of the cell was checkmated, fearing I may be exposed to some rots and dubious practices in the premises. A case of 12 years’ old teenager inmate was typical example.
Luckily, some inmates, including the richest exchanged and smuggled their phone numbers to me to help them investigate and know the circumstances surrounding their alleged unjust imprisonment, with a view to expose their vindicators, and set them free.
Accordingly, many of them were set free later through my contentious investigative news report and published on them.
One of them was up for governorship ambition in his state of origin before his travail that led to imprisonment, according to him. Up til date, he patronizes and addresses me as his “savour after God.”
He had taken me to his house, slept in my house, too. In fact, we’re like brothers as it stands today. He is not the only one, but several others. In one of the reports that set them free crashed me with a Commissioner of Justice Kaduna State, even after my prison remand.
With two NUJ National Awards and one International Award, it clearly shows that “Nothing good goes in vain.”
Objectivity, truthfulness, accuracy and balanced investigative news report, and conscientious Journalism remain the best way to go. In these way, you are adding values – socially, economically and politically to people’s lives, in a country’s tedious situation like Nigeria, our nation.
Fearless and courageous – nobody can be so careful as not die one day.
This is my story. Thanks.