The Controller of the Rivers State Command of the Nigerian Prisons, Mr. Babalola Ogundana, has said that warders are not responsible for impregnating female inmates in the state.
He was reacting to allegations that some of the inmates were at different stages of pregnancy.
The Prisons boss said contrary to speculations, the female prisoners who ware in the family way got pregnant before they were jailed. He added that male warders were not allowed to visit the female section of the prison without being accompanied by a female warder.
“The allegation is not true because all of them (female inmates) were pregnant before they got to the prison.
“When female inmates arrive at the prison, we subject them to test to confirm if they are pregnant or not.
“Those that are pregnant; we cannot reject them because they are pregnant. Once they are brought by a valid warrant (of incarceration), we have to accept them.
“So it is not possible because at no time will a male warder be with a female prisoner without a female warder.”
Ogundana also denied that the ladies were sometimes allowed to go out of the prison for sex. He said noting of such happens as the command conduct regular headcount of inmates.
“It is not possible because the warder knows that if caught in the act, the penalty is severe and so no warder will dare do it; this is a mere allegation.
“If it is for medical purpose, it has to be certified by a medical doctor. In Port Harcourt prison, we have two doctors and there are a lot of nurses.”
He further explained that babies delivered in the prison were sent to their mothers’ relatives after 18 months of being nursed by their mothers.
In cases where there is no one to accept a child, the baby is handed over to orphanage homes.
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