The Nigeria Prison Service (NPS) has acceded to the request of former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, to allow him eat personal food in Kuje Prison. Badeh, who is facing charges in court over alleged money laundering, had refused to eat prison food with other inmates.
Spokesperson for the NPS, Francis Enobore, told New Telegraph yesterday that the former CDS applied for selffeeding and his application was granted. According to him, there are rules guiding inmates in the Prisons and one of such rules is the feeding process.
He explained that the Prison Service feeds inmates thrice a day but every inmate has the right to demand for his feeding if he or she so wishes. According to him, such inmates must put his request in writing to be approved by officer in charge of the Prison. Also, he explained that the inmates must be able to abide by the regulations to opt for personal feeding. He stated that such conditions are, that such food must be brought cooked; it must be brought by a person known by the prison officials; and the food must be tasted by the person bringing it. He added that the in-mate cannot improvise with the prison food if his was not made available.
Speaking of the feeding pattern in the prison, Enobore said: “As part of our rules of engagement, when an officer comes into the prison, what we tell the person is this issue of feeding pattern. “The prison feeds all the inmates in its custody three times a day.
However, if you have the option to feed yourself, if you feel that you will not be part of what we would be providing, you can but with a caveat that whoever the inmate chooses to be bringing the food, must bring cooked food; the person must be known to the prison authority; and person must taste the food when he submits it.
“If the person that brings your food, for whatsoever reason failed to bring you food, you cannot improvise with the one provided from the prison kitchen. All these conditions are made known to you before you apply.” The prison spokesperson stated that Badeh had applied to be fed from food from outside the Prison and his application was approved.
