Your Freedom Is Non-negotiable: A Reflection On Mpape Bank Robbery

Reflecting on the needs that pushed the suspects of the foiled Mpape, Abuja, robbery to the attempted robbery act, Rashid a roadside electrical technician and Solomon a painter, both residing in Mpape, uniformly echoed “My freedom is unnegotiable”. Asking them what they meant, they went further to state that, it is better for them to go through whatever hardship ordeal they are facing at the moment, be it inability to feed or pay rent and still have the freedom to move about and sleep when they want, rather than trade this freedom for a shady deal that will land them in prison custody. 

One might be forced to say, you never can tell, but with a strong resolution not to commit a crime, knowing that it doesn’t pay or that there would definitely be an unlucky day, any tempting crime deal could be overcome.

The testimonies of the 28th December 2019 bank robbery suspects, Larry Ehizo, Ernest Ewim, Timothy Joe, Princewill Obinna, and Elijah David after the arrest, tell that all suspects were involved directly or indirectly in the robbery. However, to follow due process, they will still be given the opportunity to plead guilty or not guilty to the charges that will be read by the judge when they are arraigned in court.

With the outplay of things, the suspects might end up in correctional centres which are one of the worst shelters in Nigeria, with a lot of unpleasant experiences. Though incarceration of any form is designed to be with an unpleasant experience, the deplorable state of correctional facilities in Nigeria, makes them the worst place.

Before the arrest of Larry, Ernest, Timothy, Prince, and Elijah, any form of warrantless search on them would have been seen as harassment, but this nature of search will be a routine activity for them which might even come with some level of manhandling. It is reasonably expected that a prisoner should be subjected to constant and thorough search while in prison so as to prevent concealment of objects that are forbidden for prisoners such as weapons, drugs, and other contrabands.

Unlike their portable self-contained or at worst 5 persons shared sleeping space, the suspects henceforth will have to share rooms with about 200 other inmates, as a prisoner has no reasonable expectation of absolute privacy in his cell.  

Generally speaking, as evidenced by the prisons audit taken by the National Human Rights Commissions in 2012, Larry, Ernest, Timothy, Prince, and Elijah will be confined in a congested and dirty environment, with insufficient provision of food, inadequate hygiene, lack of basic amenities, poor ventilation, inadequate recreational centres and poor medical care which will encourage poor health condition and easy spread of diseases.

Before now, Larry, Ernest, Timothy, and Prince were gainfully employed, at least, they received a salary every month and could afford at least a meal of above #200. However, after conviction and as inmates, they will be subscribed to the official feeding allowance of 200 Nigerian Naira (NGN) per day. This is likely to be without meat, fish or rich in a complete balanced diet.

No matter how much a loner one is, there is a certain amount of joy and inner peace that comes with having family members, friends and loved ones around the times.  With the eventual conviction of Larry, Ernest, Timothy, Prince and Elijah, the joy of being around loved ones will be reduced as the times they share with their loved ones will be regulated by the officers at the correctional centre.

Nonetheless, one question still remains open, what needs were they trying to satisfy or meet before indulging in such an act. With an intention not to be judgmental,  no matter the need, an analysis of their means of earning a living provides a better way out to meet their needs rather than resorting to crime. Take, for instance, 30 years old Larry is a Political Science graduate from the University of Abuja and a banker and owns a car with which he conveyed his accomplice into the bank. His car is good enough to join the growing fleet of ride-hailing vehicles like Uber and Taxify operating on Abuja roads.

Prince Obinna, if not for the urge to make fast money only needed to be good at his craft and with the help of social media, create a very lucrative niche for himself in his photography business. Yes, it is ok to argue that only a meagre number of the hustling Nigerians have made it (blown) by such means. However, it is also a better argument to note that this alternative provides the same chances of success with lower risk, compared to indulging in crime which poses the risk of being caught and stripped of your right to privacy.

Thus, like Rashid and Solomon who described their freedom as non-negotiable in their own terms, your right to privacy should be non-negotiable with indulging in criminal acts that would result in being reprimanded in correctional centres.

Existing in Nigeria is difficult enough with all your right to privacy. Take, for instance, as a man, you cannot travel across Nigeria wearing an earring and a fried hair without being harassed and taken for a criminal. Negotiating this right is not an experience you will want to explore by indulging in crime.