
Chidinma/Ataga: Prison, A Place Of Correction, Punishment Only For Convicted Criminals Not Suspects – Barrister Uwoghiren Tells Reno Omokri
A human rights lawyer based in Benin City, the Edo State capital, Barrister Jefferson Uwoghiren has reacted to the assertion of the former Presidential spokesperson to Goodluck Ebele Jonathan on New Media, Reno Omokri who said a prison is a place of punishment, rehabilitation and not a place of fun, following the beauty pageant organized in Kirikiri correctional facility in Lagos State where, Chidinma Ojukwu, the suspected killer of Super TV boss, Michael Usifo Ataga was crowned Miss Cell 2022.
Barrister Jefferson Uwoghiren in a statement few hours ago said a person or suspect on trial is entitled to his or her rights as a human person until the Court of law found and pronounced he or she guilty.
Reno Omokri had said “Prison is a place of punishment and rehabilitation.
“Once it becomes a place of fun, then the whole purpose is defeated.
“How would the family of Usifo Ataga feel to see Chidinma prancing about as a beauty queen in prison?
“That is unacceptable. Heads should roll! And if heads don’t roll, the question we must ask is whether Chidinma has a prison official zaddy who she is making very happy. Because the state of her hair, skin, the clothes she wore and her shoes are better than 99% of females that are free in the world outside prison!
“And the media should stop calling her an ‘alleged killer’. She admitted killing Usifo Ataga on camera.
“Once there is an admission, the charge is no longer alleged. It is proven. What is in doubt are the circumstances. Did she do it while under the influence of fear, or drugs, or something else which we do not yet know? But that she did it is fact, not allegation”.
Barrister Jefferson Uwoghiren responded that any person or suspect who hasn’t been determined guilty by law remains innocent until contrarily proven.
“Prison is a place of correction and punishment for convicted criminals and not for those whose guilt hasn’t been determined by law.
“They remain innocent until contrary proven. Persons awaiting trials for alleged criminal offenses, still have their Rights intact”, Jefferson Uwoghiren said.