Three Nigerian convicts jailed 10 years

Kumasi, Feb. 20, GNA - A Kumasi Circuit Court on Tuesday convicted three Nigerian armed robbers who were serving a 25-year jail term each to additional ten years' imprisonment in hard labour for escaping from prison custody.

Jerry 32, Emeka 29 and Isaac Agu, 25, all pleaded guilty with the explanation that the Kumasi Central Prisons was congested and they did not have a place to sleep at night. They were convicted on their own pleas. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Regina Kessewaah told the court, presided over by Mr Ernest Yao Obimpe, that in the early hours of February 10, 2008, the prisoners were allowed to come out of their rooms for breakfast.

She explained that, Jerry and Emeka were both serving their sentence at the Nsawam Prisons but were later transferred to Kumasi where they met Isaac Agu.

The three who had already hatched a planned to escape, rushed to the toilet room when the door was opened. ASP Kessewaah said Agu helped the two escape by scaling the prison's walls.

She said a prisons officer, who was on duty at the time tried to stop them but they splashed powdered pepper into his eyes, assaulted him and bolted.

They were however arrested later by prison officers and bystanders.