One of the suspected masterminds of the October 1, 2010 bombing in Abuja, Tiemkenfa Francis Osvwo (alias General Gbokos), died in the Kuje Prison on Saturday.

A statement by his lawyer in the case, Federal Republic of Nigeria v. Charles Okah & others, Mr. Festus Keyamo, alleged that Osvwo was murdered by the authorities.

Keyamo claimed that Osvwo’s death came on the heels of a series of complaints by the counsel representing him and his co-accused about the maltreatment meted out to the accused persons in prison.

“The sickness leading to the death of Tiemkenfa Francis Osvwo started when their cell was fumigated with a strange substance on the January 8, 2012, which affected the health of all the four suspects. Suffice it to reiterate that we, their solicitors raised the alarm about that development at the time.

“Prior to his death in custody, Gbokos had been urinating and defecating on himself in the prison and despite pleas by his solicitors requesting that he be treated properly, no one attended to him.

“On February 21, 2012, Osvwo collapsed in court which stalled hearing for that day but despite the order of the court that Osvwo should be medically attended to by the prisons authorities, no medication was administered on him. It was obvious therefore that the authorities wanted him dead,” Keyamo’s statement read.

Comparing the plight of his clients with that of suspects linked to Boko Haram bombings, some of whom are on bail, Keyamo said it was unfair that his clients were being maltreated in prison, when they were still supposed to be presumed innocent according to the law.

“At this juncture, we are constrained to state that we find it extremely inequitable that virtually all the suspects linked to the Boko Haram bombings have been enjoying bail while our clients, the alleged masterminds of the October 1, 2010 bombings (still presumed innocent) continue to suffer indignities in custody.

“We therefore, respectfully, call on all well-meaning Nigerians to join in the call for their bail and the Nigerian government to facilitate the release of the other suspects in custody with a view to attending to their deteriorating health before they die in custody,” the lawyer said.

According to Keyamo, other accused persons in the October 1, 2010 bombing still in Kuje Prisons are facing similar conditions that claimed Osvwo’s life.



http://www.punchng.com/news/independence-day-bombing-suspect-dies-in-prison/#comment-100421

na wa ooooo

Him brothers!
Waiting be our own for how he do him boyz, huh?

Nonsense.As for me de only tin gud for nigeria is to part ways.
How can sum 1 who masterminded bombing be allowed de court and still plea not guilty.
For me noting good is and will never come out from nigeria.
Its always de rich gets richer and de poor gest poorer

Make him brothers no retaliate ooo, abeg oo

Ha.
Of course!
With the resurgence of MEND attacks and the president denying they were the ones who did the Oct 1 blasts. . .
Perhaps he needed to be silenced permanently.
Up GEJ!

I smell dead rat! Who else can?

Hafiz Ringim
did a lot of evil.

Vincent 4:

Nonsense.As for me de only tin gud for nigeria is to part ways.
How can sum 1 who masterminded bombing be allowed de court and still plea not guilty.
For me noting good is and will never come out from nigeria.
Its always de rich gets richer and de poor gest poorer

this is really pathetic

First of all, let his name be changed from FRANCIS TO FAROUK before I comment further - what will the name "Francis" be doing on list of TERRORIST?

Vincent 4:

Nonsense.As for me de only tin gud for nigeria is to part ways.
How can sum 1 who masterminded bombing be allowed de court and still plea not guilty.
For me noting good is and will never come out from nigeria.
Its always de rich gets richer and de poor gest poorer

That's just for a time nah. The useless thing will be crushed. Certainly.

“On February 21, 2012, Osvwo collapsed in court which stalled hearing for that day but despite the order of the court that Osvwo should be medically attended to by the prisons authorities, no medication was administered on him. It was obvious therefore that the authorities wanted him dead,” Keyamo’s statement read.

Comparing the plight of his clients with that of suspects linked to Boko Haram bombings, some of whom are on bail, Keyamo said it was unfair that his clients were being maltreated in prison, when they were still supposed to be presumed innocent according to the law.

“At this juncture, we are constrained to state that we find it extremely inequitable that virtually all the suspects linked to the Boko Haram bombings have been enjoying bail while our clients, the alleged masterminds of the October 1, 2010 bombings (still presumed innocent) continue to suffer indignities in custody.

“We therefore, respectfully, call on all well-meaning Nigerians to join in the call for their bail and the Nigerian government to facilitate the release of the other suspects in custody with a view to attending to their deteriorating health before they die in custody,” the lawyer said.

The goverment should treat them well nah.

I think if they are qualify for bail the court should give them one.

hope he confessed all his sins before giving up the ghost

hope so

Na wao, for this nairaland some people dey write english sha, abeg next time for those guys who used to force themselves to write correct english and later end up writing nonsense, its better you put it in pidgin than writing trash here, please be warned, !!!!!!

@dedom, that is reality staring you in the face. Wake up and stop living in denial.

which state is he from?

Nigeria!

If any of ur family member died in d IBB, wud u request for their bail? Let them face the wrought of d law and be detained like any other criminal until d case is conclusive. Afterall, they re not better than those who lost their lives. Infact, if na me, all of dem 4 don die finish, i no no y we dey waste our money they feed n treat these terrorists. I know some people ll fault me sayiny they re pressumed to be innocent accept proven otherwise but ,

GOD save Nigeria oh!

@ korrection,u need to clean up ur mess before starting verbal attack on someone, It is to those not for those, Correct urself first

Nigerian Prisons - A taste of hell on earth.
Imagine someone being abandoned to defecate on himself without medical attention while still awaiting trial. Whatever happened to human rights, so if one is accused, he's now similar to an animal.

All ds ppl dat ve joined forces to bomb nd kill innocent ppl will some go down ds way IJN.

onpe