₦airaland Forum

Peter Nicholas, a 26-year-old graduate of Mass Communication from Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, stumbled upon a life-changing opportunity when he secured employment with an Abuja-based photography studio owned by the notable businessman Mike Oluwole. However, his promising career soon turned into a 10-month nightmare at Keffi Correctional Centre after he resigned via text message. He tells ADEKUNLE SULAIMON about his protracted ordeal that seemed as improbable as it was cruel, how his prison experience marked his life indelibly and his journey to freedom.


How did you begin your photography career?

It was a Reverend Father who helped me discover my skills. He paid for a one-year training course at a photography studio here in Abuja, where I mastered the craft of photography.


How did you get the job with your ex-boss?

There was a time I went to his office to sell a camera lens owned by a friend. That day, he mentioned that he needed a good photographer and photo editor and I presented myself. He took me through a series of photography tests and loved the outcomes. He offered me the job, although without an official letter.

He put me on probation for six months and started paying me N70,000 monthly, with the promise of a raise once I was confirmed. I only stayed less than three months at the firm before I tendered my resignation.


What made you resign?
I got a better offer elsewhere and informed him but he expressed displeasure because he wanted me to work and train others, especially as I had the editing skills required for the job. He wasn’t happy about my short notice. I had to leave because what he was paying me wasn’t enough. When I wasn’t working for him, my freelance jobs were sufficient to secure an apartment and feed myself.


You resigned, but why via a text message and not officially?
I admit that was a mistake on my part. However, since I wasn’t given an employment letter, I didn’t see the need to write a resignation letter. Moreover, I wasn’t the first person; he didn’t give anyone an employment letter.


If your text message was about resignation, why were you arrested for insulting him in the same text?
That’s not true. The message I sent on 10 October 2023 stated that I was no longer interested in working with him. To further explain my reason for resigning, I sent another text on October 14, advising him to learn leadership and management skills because of how he humiliated a colleague who collected N125,000 from a client into his personal account since the customer couldn’t pay into the company’s account.

The colleague was arrested, molested by the police, and eventually taken to their station despite reimbursing the company. After that, I lost interest in working at his studio. No staff member had ever stayed there for more than three months, though the customers weren’t aware. On October 15, he had me arrested for insulting him.


Why didn’t you reach out to your parents or loved ones when you were arrested?
My parents don’t live in Abuja. They are from Benue State but live in Akwa Ibom, and I didn’t call them when I was arrested. I thought it was something that would be resolved that day. However, I was detained and later charged at the Upper Area Court in Mpape, Abuja, where I was granted bail of N100,000, which was later reduced to N50,000.

Despite making several calls, I couldn’t raise the funds and was eventually taken to prison, where I spent 10 months.


Describe your experience in Keffi Correctional Centre

Terrible! Absolutely terrible! My first three months were hell until I met a chaplain who later helped me because I always played the keyboard in the prison’s church. He grew fond of me. Initially, I was kept in isolation for newcomers for two weeks before being placed in a cell with 109 other inmates.

I slept on the floor and didn’t bathe for more than three months because I had no money to buy a bucket of water. The water was sold by inmates who were fortunate enough to go outside.

I also survived on prison rations. To top it all, I was in a cell with hardened criminals—robbers, kidnappers, murderers, innocent inmates awaiting justice, and those without records. There was no segregation whatsoever.


Were you compelled to do hard labour during your time in prison, or what was your daily routine like?

We didn’t do anything except sleep and hail the president and vice president of inmates in the cell at intervals.


What are your parents’ occupations, and did you inform them or your siblings that you were in prison over an unfulfilled bail condition?

My father is a retired soldier, and my mother, a trader. I didn’t inform my parents because of my mother’s underlying health conditions. Although I’m the third of six children, I didn’t inform any of my siblings.

I only contacted my elder brother, asking him to send N50,000 to complete a task this month, which he promised to do by the end of the month. I couldn’t call the other siblings because I didn’t have my phone with me. Before this incident, I was not on good terms with my father, so I kept it from my brother to prevent him from informing my father and making me appear as the bad child of the family.


Weren’t you declared missing when neighbours in your place of residence didn’t see you?

They thought I travelled. Until the matter went viral, they had no idea I was in prison.


Your ex-boss alleged that you stole the company’s phone, so you were arrested for “insulting him” and theft. How true was that?

I resigned from the job before he declared his phone missing. I believe that the text message I sent to him instigated the theft accusation.


Did you deny the theft allegation in court?

Yes, I did. That’s why I wasn’t convicted for it.


Your boss also claimed that you’d been in prison before for theft. Is that true?

Yes, I’ve spent six weeks in prison before when I had an issue with a friend who took me to court. His camera and lenses were stolen, and he didn’t believe that I wasn’t in possession of them, but we settled the matter amicably after which I left prison.


Did you reach out to your ex-boss in prison at any time to ask him to help you out?

I did, but he could only send N20,000, which wasn’t enough to meet the N50,000 bail condition. When I reached out to him, he said the warder had previously told him it was N20,000 and that he wouldn’t send more than that. Before I was sent to prison, he also sent a letter to the court stating that he was no longer interested in the case, but it was rejected because it wasn’t properly dated.


How did the Hope Behind Bars Africa Foundation hear about your illegal detention and secured your eventual release?

I have a friend, Mark, at Yiaga Africa, whom I reached out to from prison. I met him through the voluntary work I did for his platform. His number was in the book I took with me to prison, so I contacted him. He was the one who informed the Abuja-based foundation, which later came to my rescue. If they hadn’t helped me, I would probably still be there because the Upper Area Court in Abuja is no longer functional.


How has your experience in prison affected your views on power dynamics from boss to subordinate? Will it take a toll on your mental health or professional outlook?

Honestly, I was mentally down; I wasn’t myself. I couldn’t believe I spent 10 months of my life in prison. I believe he just wanted to oppress me. I’m just glad I’ve moved on and settled all rifts with my father. I’ve built a good customer database, and I just want to return to my photography. When I left prison, I visited my ex-boss to show him how dishevelled I was; he couldn’t help but give me N20,000 to take care of myself.

Source: https://punchng.com/i-spent-10-months-in-prison-for-resigning-via-text-message-26-year-old-photographer/

Lol

Aboks:
As usual bad news

Naija-Cover

Na Where Mr Blogger Dey Work, Na There, Him Dey See Him Own Food, Take Chop, My Boss.

immortalcrown:
Comic tragedies.

My Brother, Mr Blogger Is Still Observing........

Fake Doctor Is So Terrible 😔 I'M Still Shocked

Men From Zone 16 of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested a fake medical doctor, Doubara Esamasuode, operating without a licence in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

The Suspect was paraded before newsmen during a press briefing at the headquarters of Zone 16 of the NFP on Thursday, August 29, 2024.

The spokesperson of the zone, SP Emonena Gunn, said the suspect was operating under St. Maximilian Medical Centre, located at Winners Junction in the Etegwe area of Yenagoa.

“The said suspect was arrested on the 25th of August, 2024 by detectives of Surveillance and Intelligence from the State Criminal Investigation Department,” he stated.

"During the execution of search, injection strings, drugs, hospital equipment, an enlarged photograph of his fake convocation, hospital folders and 200 copies of image/ultrasound reports were recovered.

“The suspect was apprehended and has equally confessed to the commission of various offences ranging from being a fake medical doctor, operation of illegal medical facility, forgery and impersonation.

"He is being presented to the media and the general public, sending a clear message that criminal activities will not be tolerated within the zonal jurisdiction. Hence investigation is ongoing and he will be charged to court in due course.”

The Spokesperson further said the arrest would serve as a testament to the ongoing work being done to maintain law and order and instill a sense of security within the Zone.

He, however, urged the public to continue to cooperate with law enforcement agencies by providing timely information that can aid in the investigation to apprehend criminal elements.

Narrating her experience a victim, name withheld, said she was referred to the fake doctor by a relation of her husband who told her that a woman that was referred to the fake doctor got pregnant within a month.

“Trying to get pregnant. I decided to give it a try. He checked me and said my body is okay, that I was going to conceive in three months. I will go for a scan. My initial payment was N30,000," she narrated.

"He gave me an injection and gave me seven days, calculating my fertile window and told me that I should meet with my husband, which I did religiously. After that he told me that I was pregnant and gave me a tablet which I later came to find out that it is what ceased my period and not because I was pregnant.

"The name of the tablet is primolut N. He asked me to take it for three months after which I should go for a scan. After the three months, I went for a scan and it was negative and he told me that some results does not always show in first three months, because of the type of treatment and injections used for the process, that I should give it sometime and that it was going to reflect in the scan.

"After waiting for some time, I noticed that there was no progress and I started bleeding. He referred me to someone else to massage me to stop the bleeding, which I went for and I paid N70,000 for that treatment.

"After that he made mention that the delivery is going to cost N5.6m since I am carrying twins, which raised some concerns and I started researching about it. That was when I found out that the drug was just stopping my period and that my period did not cease because of pregnancy.

"I went for a separate scan without telling him. I went for a trans-vaginal scan and they said even if the pregnancy is a week old the scan will be able to detect it. I told him I am not pregnant and there was nobody hiding anywhere. He said it is because it is a cryptic pregnancy. I asked him if cryptic means the woman would not be aware that she is pregnant? He kept on giving excuses.

"At some point, an insider in the hospital told me that I need a particular drug for delivery which will cost N5.6m. Like he said before and the doctor does not have the drugs for now. So we have to go to Port Harcourt.

“We went there and it was the same story that I was pregnant with twins and delivery will cost N5.6m. The more I researched about it, the more I became convinced that it was not real. Though they have equipment, it is like a normal hospital but we saw no certificate and picture frame of the doctor. So we decided to pull out and went to FMC to flush my system.”

A Second Victim, name withheld, narrated how she was deceived by the fake doctor and suffered from bleeding that almost took her life.

“I took the drugs the doctor prescribed for me, after my period ceased for six months and all of a sudden I bled to a point that I felt I was going to pass out," she explained.

The Fake Doctor, Doubara Esamasuode, confirmed the allegations levelled against him, but said the photograph was not a convocation picture, noting that it was a mistake from the photographer.

“For the medical items, I make use of them, I am a fake doctor. I started this business in 2019 when I got admission into the University of Abuja, but could not continue the school because of an accident.”

He, However, Pleaded For Mercy.


See Photos Below:

Source: https://www.lindaikejisblog.com/2024/8/police-arrest-fake-doctor-in-bayelsa-2.html

No Be Small Thing ooooo

Uncletony:
Certified fools will have some sympathy, it didn't happen in Anambra!

Wetin You Mean?

immortalcrown:
I repeat, bad road is unacceptable, but reckless driving kills more than bad road doors in Nigeria.

The Sienna probably wanted to do a reckless overtaking but had to quickly go behind the truck because there was an oncoming heavy vehicle. But why is it often claimed that most of the trucks involved in road traffic accidents in this Nigeria do not have a registration number? This is not a first time I am reading that a truck involved in an accident does not have a registration number.

I Don Tire About The High Death Rate ooooo

Inukwa ooooo

You Will Not Die In Road Accident, Say AMEN

At least six persons – two male and four female adults – on Friday died in a road crash along the Lagos – Ibadan expressway.

It was gathered that three others were injured in the accident which occurred at about 7:40am at Verony, Ogere, on the highway.

The crash involved one ash Toyota Sienna marked EPE692EL and a truck with no registration number.

Spokesman of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC, Ogun Command, Florence Okpe, confirmed the incident on Friday.

Okpe explained that the speeding Sienna Space Bus, had rammed into a moving truck from the rear, killing six persons on board and left three others injured.

“The truck did not wait after the incident,” Okpe said.

She said the injured victims were taken to Patmag Hospital, Ogere, for treatment, while corpses were deposited at FOS Morgue, Ipara.
Okpe quoted the Sector Commander, Ogun Sector Command, Akinwumi Fasakin, to have described the crash as an avoidable act “if proper caution was fully put in place by the driver.”

He urged motorists to always ensure they give maximum concentration to driving as “it is an act that requires such and obey all traffic rules while driving on the highway.”

He further commiserated with the families of the crash victims and wished the injured victims quick recovery.

Source: https://dailytrust.com/six-die-in-fresh-accident-on-lagos-ibadan-expressway/

Nawa o

No Be Small Thing

What Is Really Happening Inside This OGUN

A 32-Year-Old Man Named Olúwaṣeun Shorinola has taken his life in the Kémta area of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, PUNCH Online reports.

The Ogun State Police Command, through its spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, confirmed this to our correspondent via electronic message on Thursday.

PUNCH Online gathered that the incident occurred at about 10 pm on Wednesday.

The Command’s spokesperson informed our correspondent that the deceased’s wife found him hanging from a wall.

Odutola said, “On August 28, 2024, Temitope Oguntade reported at the Kémta Police Division that she received a call from Tajudeen Aremu that her immediate brother was found dead by his wife.

“A team of policemen was dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival, Shorinola was found dead, with his body hanging against the wall, which shows that the man committed suicide. The body was brought down.

“The family insisted that they wanted to take the body away for burial instead of taking it to the mortuary for autopsy. We are monitoring the situation.”

In April 2024, The PUNCH reported that two individuals in the state died in a similar circumstances.

Opeyemi Lateef died after ingesting an insecticide, while 24-year-old Gift Bello died after jumping into a well.

The duo carried out the act a few hours apart.

Source: https://www.google.com/amp/s/punchng.com/32-year-old-man-kills-self-in-ogun/%3famp

Inukwa ooooo

😆

Wow

Nawa o

Goat STEW

Hmmmmm

Kenobsky:
Oya make wee see good news chop at least not only bad news.

Show Mr Blogger, Love Na

Inukwa ooooo

Following

Zackattack:
Why do you keep asking this question🤦‍♂️

Inukwa

Hmmmmmm

Hmmmmmm