The Controller of Corrections in Rivers State, Felix Madumere, has dismissed reports suggesting that a recently pardoned inmate, Gospel Kenani, was detained for 18 years after being arrested as a minor.
Speaking at a press briefing in Port Harcourt, Madumere clarified that records at the Port Harcourt Custodial Centre show the inmate—originally documented as Sunday Baridi—was 22 years old at the time of admission in 2010, not 14 as widely reported.
“If he had come in as a juvenile, we would not have admitted him. That would have been flagged immediately and reported to the court,” he stated.
He explained that Kenani’s prolonged detention was due to a legal error in the early stage of the case. He was charged with armed robbery but arraigned before a magistrate court that lacked jurisdiction. The case then stalled for years, awaiting legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
“The warrant that brought him here was for trial, not for conviction. Sadly, the legal process dragged on until the DPP gave clearance,” Madumere said.
He also addressed confusion over the inmate’s name, explaining that suspects often provide false identities at arrest. According to Madumere, the true identity of the inmate was later confirmed through welfare investigations and input from his elder brother, who had reported him missing years ago.
“This is not an isolated case. It reflects wider
