The Adamawa Prisons chief, Controller of Prisons (CP), Mr. Peter Yeni Tenkwa, his deputy, DCP Abubakar Abaka, and SP John Bukar have been sent home for an extended forced holiday over the manner jailed former Adamawa Governor, Mr. Bala Ngillari, got a medical report that facilitated his getting a controversial court bail after a five-year conviction.
A statement, Tuesday, by the Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Prisons Services Board (CDFIPB) said the men were suspended following their indictment “for their complicity in the issuance of unauthorised medical report on Bala Ngillari….”
New replacements, including a medical doctor to take charge of the prison clinic, have been dispatched to fill the vacancies created by suspension of the three men.
The letter, suspending the three men pending the outcome of further investigations, was dated 3rd April, 2017 and signed by the Director / Secretary of the Board, Mr. Sunday Dan Ogu.
Last week, the scandalous and controversial bail of convicted Adamawa state former governor, Mr. James Bala Ngillari, claimed its first casualty with the detention of the officer that allegedly forged the medical records and snuck Ngillari out of prison after working hours.
The now suspended Prison Controller of Adamawa state command Mr. Peter Tenkwa, told journalists last Wednesday in Yola that Superitendent John Bukar, who issued the alleged fake medical report was clamped into detention in Yola prison where Ngillari was an inmate.
“As I am talking to you now Wednesday I have not seen the court order to produce Ngillari in court , when I called my subordinate in charge of Yola main prison to give him instructions on the Ngillari case he told me that Ngillari is no longer in prison. Our officers involved in this fraud will surely pay heavily for their illegal actions,” he stated.
“Based on Prison Act Cap 366 section 84, I have the powers to arrest and detain any officer at the rank of Supritendant, Supritendant John Bukar is now detained in Yola Prison for his illicit deals that culminated into the illegal release of convicted Adamawa state former governor Mr. James Bala Ngillari. He will remain in the prison until all investigations are concluded and the type of punishment to be meted on him is decided,” he said.
The former embattled governor was jailed for five years, without an option of fine, for violating the Public Procurement Act in the award of contract for the procurement of 25 vehicles at a whopping sum of N168.7 million to an unknown female contractor.
Justice Musa, in his judgement, had declared that due process was not followed in the transaction and that the action of the governor was executive rascality.
Ngillari, having appealed the sentence, went back to the same court that convicted him, and asked for bail, pending the determination of his appeal.
The bail plea was supported by a an alleged forged medical report on Ngillari, from Yola Prison, which indicated that the former governor had been under intensive medical management.
The report, signed by Mr John Bukar, in charge of the health of inmates stated that Ngillari had diabetes, hypertension and insomnia.
It said that Ngilari, who had been referred to Canada Specialist Hospital in Dubai, for evaluation and management, had blood pressure that was rising between 180/110 MMHG to 190/120 MMHG.