Ex-minister Moro received with mixed feelings in Kuje prison

– Hearing on Moro to resume on Thursday, March 3 – Moro’s return to Kuje prison was barely a year after visiting as a minister – Inmates curious to know reason for his detention

After being remanded at the Kuje prison following a court ruling, former Interior minister, Abba Moro has been welcomed with curiosity by inmates. Some inmates who saw the ex-minister, remanded in prison custody by Justice Anwuli Chikere of the federal high court, Abuja, over his alleged involvement in a N676 million job scam, were said to have been shocked as they could not believe their eyes. According to The Nation, the former minister (joining some other prominent Nigerians who were recently remanded in same prison) was reportedly brought to the prison around 12 pm on Monday and went through the routine procedures for taking inmates. The report stated further that on seeing the ex-minister, some of the inmates were curious and wanted to know what exactly led the minister to join them in detention, when he was actually on a visit to the facility about a year ago as a minister. Akinlolu Kehinde, counsel to Moro, had argued that his client was sick and required medical attention which the prison services cannot render. But the prosecuting counsel, Aliyu Yusuf, opposed this notion, stating that there was no evidence to prove that the former Interior ministry custodian was actually sick, while also arguing that diabetes which the former minister claimed to be suffering from can be treated at the medical facility of Kuje prison. The presiding judge, Chikere, after listening to the arguments, struck out the name of the company pending the amended of the charges by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, she further adjourned the matter to Thursday, March 3, for ruling on the bail application. Meanwhile, Dr Katch Ononuju, a renowned economist and the director general of Heritage Centre, has condemned the approach of the present government in its fight against corruption especially as it concerns the trial of Moro. Ononuju, a devoted researcher into politics and economics said although he is fully supportive of Abba Moro’s questioning but there is a linkage to the fact that the present government is only witch-hunting its perceived enemies adding that Abba Moro could have been targeted because of his role in helping David Mark win the February 20, Benue south senatorial district.