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The Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS) has confirmed that there was a jailbreak at the Kuje Medium Prison in Abuja on Friday night, but stated that Charles Okah, who is facing trial over his alleged involvement in the Abuja 2010 Independence Day bombing that killed 27 people, was not among the inmates that reportedly escaped.
The Public Relations Officer of the Service, Francis Enobore, in a press statement, said that Charles, younger brother to Henry Okah, is still in their custody.
There were reports that the prison management had declared massive manhunt to find and re-arrest the Charlew of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) who allegedly escaped on Friday night with another prison inmate after scaling the high prison walls around 7:30pm.
Enobore said:
“Yes there was an incident on Friday at our Kuje Medium Prison, but Okah was not involved.
“It is not true that Okah has escaped from our custody, Charles Okah is still in custody. I have been in touch with our men in the prison facility and I can confirm to you that there is nothing like Okah escaping.
According to the spokesman, Enobore the newly decorated Controller General of Prison has immediately ordered a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to the escape of two inmates.
He said the prison was collaborating with other security agencies to recapture the fleeing prisoners.
The inmates, it was gathered, were awaiting trial for culpable homicide and had no relationship with Charles Okah.