….sponsors indomitable cup tournament for inmates
Tony Okoh || In a bid to show love and succor to those in difficulties as well as decongest Nigerian Prisons, the lawmaker representing Onna State Constituency in the Akwa Ibom state , Hon Nse Essien popularly known as Indomitable has paid various fines to the Uyo Prison Service for the release of 16 male inmates and pledged to also settle bills of five female prisoners depending on when the management of the Service will finalize the administrative bottlenecks.
Essien had in previous two years (between 2015-2016) paid huge sum of money for the release of 14 and 19 inmates respectively in the same Prison, thereby making a sum total of 54 released inmates within three years.
The lawmaker, while presenting the cheque advised inmates to be law abiding by disassociating themselves from any criminal acts noting that Prison custody was not a good place for anyone to stay.
He noted that he had long determined to yearly offset bills of Prisoners who were not able to pay their fine and urged the released inmates to go and “sin no more”.
“This is not a good place to reside. Whatever brought you guys here, when you leave, don’t come back here again.
” The only thing you can do for me is to be law abiding in order not to come back here as God will not let you go if you come back here again.
“Whatever brought you here should never bring you back and I pray that God will help all of you to leave here and become good citizens.” He prayed.
He made it clear that his determination to come to the aide of prisoners was out of love and genuine feelings for those in chains stressing that he never met or knew all those who have benefitted from his benevolence.
“In fact, I never meet them once they are out of here, my prayer for them is to become useful citizens and contribute to nation building like others”
In another development, the Third edition of Indomitable Football Tournament, a yearly competition amongst inmates in the Prison custody ended with prizes awarded to winners by the sponsor of the event, Hon. Nse Essien.
The third edition, unlike previous ones, was garnished with other sporting events including; draught, scrabble, Whot, female football and boxing as an exhibition.
Winners of the male and female football competition went home with 30,000 naira each while the runner-up bagged 20000 each from the Onna born legislator.
Those of the other categories who won gold, silver and bronze medals were given 20000, 10000 and 5000 naira respectively.
In his response, the Deputy Controller of Prison, Mr. Iyawabo Babafemi applauded the gesture of the Lawmaker in decongesting the prison as well as giving the inmates sense of belonging via involvement in Sporting activities and pleaded with him to keep the flag flying.
He described the year’s tournament as robust and unique revealing that the competition spanned over a month.
Babafemi, however, called on well meaning members of the society to emulate the attitude of the MP, disclosing that the act of decongesting PRISONS should be a partnership between Government and the people.
Also speaking, the anchorman of the tournament, DSP Usen Mmendie revealed that the Onna born lawmaker has also donated football boots, hand gloves, medals with a view to boosting the tournament.
He opined that Lawmaker spends over two million naira yearly to ensure the release of some inmates and successful organization of sporting events for others to keep their spirits high.
The highlight of the event was the boxing exhibition where the duo of Hon. Nse Essien and the Deputy Controller of Prison performed the opening ritual.