A 50-year-old woman, Lydia Joel who was serving a 7-year jail term at the Jos Prison over a missing wrapper has regained her freedom after over two years, courtesy of the CEO of Stanel Group, Mr Stanley Uzochukwu.

According to a heart-touching narration by Lydia, she was working for a man (name withheld) as a house help when her madam gave her some clothes, including a George wrapper to wash on the faithful day, but unfortunately, one of the wrappers got missing on the line.

“My madam gave me clothes to wash and I washed them. But in the evening when I gathered the clothes, the George wrapper was missing from the clothes on the line. That was the beginning of my problem. The woman said I stole the cloth; I said I was not the one, but she didn’t believe me.

“She called the police to arrest me and because she has money to influence the police, I was charged to court with different count charges.

“That was how I was eventually charged to court and jailed for 7 years with an option of fine of One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira Only (N150,000.00). I have nobody to pay that kind of big money, so I resigned to faith in the prison to serve the jail term.

“While in prison, I was frustrated, depressed and hopeless for serving a jail term for a crime I didn’t commit. I thought it was all over in life. She narrated.

Lydia Joel said the news of Mr Stanley Uzochukwu’s visit to the Jos Prison which led to her freedom, brought hope and relief to many inmates including her.

According to her, “I was only happy for the food items but never knew that Stanley Uzochukwu is a God sent; a ‘messiah’ to secure my freedom.”

She said: “he sent about 25 inmates free from the very day he visited with truck of food items. And my case was mentioned to him and he promised he would do something.

“But I didn’t believe he could keep to his promise until he, indeed, sent some persons to the prison authorities to initiate the process of making payment for my fine of N150,000.00. This was unbelievable! As God may have it to the shame of my enemies, he paid the fine and I was set free.”

Lydia Joel said she started shedding tears of joy when prison warders came to her and told her that she was going home.

She expressed gratefulness and prayed God to bless Mr. Stanley setting the inmates and herself free.

“I cannot thank him enough. This is a man I never know in my entire life and I don’t know where to see him now. I saw the finger of God in his success and generosity.

“I like to leave a simple prayer for him: the sky is his starting point but not his limit. May God continue to bless him,” Miss Joel prayed for Mr Uzochukwu.

The Chairman/CEO of Stanel Group, Stanel Uzochukwu, in addition to paying the fines for 25 inmates for their release, also donated a truck of different food items to the Jos prison authorities to improve the feeding condition of the inmates.

Overwhelmed by the simplicity of the philanthropist, the Comptroller of the Jos Prison, DCP Yahaya Adamu Sambo, confirmed the report and commended Uzochukwu’s love and passion to alleviate the suffering of the inmates by setting 25 prisoners free and the donation of truck of food items for the remaining inmates.

“I am simply overwhelmed by the visit of an individual. Uzochukwu is, indeed, a great philanthropist. I was thinking the truck of food items was from the United Nation.

“He did not stop there; he also paid fines for 25 inmates who are not imprisoned for criminal cases. The most touching and sympathetic of it all is the house help woman, Lydia, who is being jailed for 7 years with an option of fine of N150,000.00 for stolen wrapper.

“This is the biggest donation I have ever received from an individual without media presence,” the prison official said.

Confirming the testimony of Lidia, the philanthropist and Chairman/CEO of Stanel Group, Stanley Uzochukwu said he was moved and acted out of compassion for Lydia Joel’s story.

“The woman’s story touched me and the only option I had was to ensure that she was set free from jail. I don’t know her from anywhere, but I just have to secure her freedom.

“I think well-meaning individuals should be doing such. There are so many innocent Nigerians in Prisons custody for the crime they didn’t commit.” (NAN)

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