Friday Alefia, a publisher and journalist with Naija News Today, has revealed to FIJ how he had to purchase a bed space in Kuje Correctional Centre for a sum of N170,000 during his detention.
Alefia said he was held in detention for 86 days on the order of Chinedu Ogah, an Ebonyi State House of Representatives member, representing Ezza South/Ikwo Federal Constituency. The federal legislator had accused Alefia of cyberbullying after some of his publications highlighted the lawmaker’s involvement in land-grabbing activities.
He was arrested at his Lagos residence on September 24 by six policemen. Three of the policemen were from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the remaining three were from Lagos.
The journalist spent two days at Area F Police Command at Ikeja and was subsequently transferred to the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) facility abattoir in Guzape District, Abuja, where he was locked up for six weeks.
When asked if the Nigerian Police Anti-Robbery Squad was still actively operating, he told FIJ that the police arm was worse than when they were fully operating.
“They (SARS) are still operating. Even though on the surface they are not operating as SARS, but if you see what is going on there… They are even worse than when they were fully in practice,” he told FIJ over the phone on Sunday.
Alefia was later arraigned in the high court on November 12 and subsequently remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre, where he was held behind bars for a month and 14 days.
“My legal team were running around for my bail application, and when it was finally granted, the conditions were so stringent, but we fulfilled the conditions last week,” Alefia said on Sunday.
The bail condition was pegged at N20 million with two sureties of similar sum, that included a federal civil servant on a minimum Grade of level 15 to provide an employment and promotional letter, official identity card, with original copies for court’s verification, while the other surety must provide an affidavit of means, a six-month bank statement and tax clearance certificates for the past three years.
He was released on December 12, after meeting the stringent bail conditions.
Before his arrest on September 14, police were making efforts to track Alefia through his mobile device, which he later noticed. He was eventually arrested after his caretaker took the policemen to his residence.
AT KUJE PRISON, I WAS FORCED TO SLEEP IN FRONT OF THE CELL TOILET — DETAINED JOURNALIST
The journalist told FIJ that he was forced to sleep near the toilet because he could not afford to buy a fixed space when he immediately got to Kuje Prison, as the officials charge inmates before getting them a ‘better place’ to stay.
“They have a cell government that pressures you to sleep near the toilet. On the first day when I was remanded, I slept in front of the toilet because I said I didn’t have the money to pay them. They charge you before you get a better place to stay,” he revealed to FIJ.
The next day, the discomfort he felt from his cell location compelled him to pay about N170,000 to Kuje Prison officials to get a better place to stay.
Alefia said payments were usually received by the ‘president of the cell’ called Seriki.
“You pay to the person who serves as the president of the cell, called ‘Seriki’, who works in a syndicate with the warders. At the end of it, the warders collect their own percentage. A lot is happening there. Some come there and get charged N500,000, depending on their assessment of your financial capacity.”
Alefia added that inmates who could not afford to pay these fees were put to work, sweeping the cell every morning, washing the toilet and sleeping on the floor.
HIS DETENTION AT SARS FACILITY FOR SIX WEEKS IS UNLAWFUL — ALEFIA’S LAWYER
FIJ spoke with Israel Abida, Alefia’s lawyer, on a phone call on Sunday. He attributed his client’s detention to accusations of cyberbullying, cyberstalking and conspiracy. He also confirmed the stringent bail condition that got him out of detention, which was later fulfilled.
He stated that his detention at the SARS facility was unlawful and illegal for the lengthy days, which defiled his client’s fundamental rights.
Abida added that his client is out of detention to prepare his defence for the court appearance on January 27, 2026.
“He has been granted bail, and it has been fulfilled, and he is out of detention to prepare his defence. The case is adjourned for January 27, 2026, for commencement of trial,” the lawyer said.
Alefia’s valuable properties, including his international passport, mobile phone and laptop, remain with the FCT police.
FIJ, in an earlier insider story, reported how inmates at Awka Prison were subjected to paying nothing less than N100,000 for beds and access to privileged cells.
WE DO NOT COLLECT MONEY FROM ANY INMATE BEFORE THEY ARE GIVEN A BED SPACE — NCoS SPOKESPERSON
FIJ called Jane Osuji, the spokesperson for the National Correctional Service, on Tuesday. She said the collection of money before allocating space to inmates is against the institution’s rules.
“We do not collect money from any inmate before they are given a bed space. Medical, feeding, and bed space are paid for by hardworking taxpayers of this country. It is not in our nature to collect money for what has been paid for by the government of Nigeria,” the spokesperson stated.
She asked for more details about the reported misconduct at Kuje Correctional Centre.
