Breaking: Jonathan sacks Controller General of Prisons, appoints replacement

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has removed the Controller General of Prisons (Covering Duties), Alhaji Aminu Suleh, and announced an immediate replacement.

The action may not be unconnected with the recent increase in jail breaks in parts of the country, some attributed to Boko Haram insurgents. In the latest of such incidents, gunmen last Sunday, November 30, released 435 inmates from Ado-Ekiti Prison in Ekiti State.

A statement made available to News Express minutes ago says President Jonathan has approved the appointment of Dr Peter Ezenwa Ekpendu as the new Controller General of Prisons.

The statement continues: “The new Controller General of Prisons hails from Ibeku Okwuato in Mbaise Local Government area of Imo State.

“He had his Primary school Education at St Patrick’s school Ibeku, Okwuato in Aboh Mbaise LGA, while his Secondary School education was at Mbaise Secondary School, Aboh Mbaise. He had his Teachers’ Training College Education at Azaraegbelu Teachers’ Training College Emekuku, Owerri.

“His tertiary Education was at University of Nigeria, Nsukka where he obtained his B.Sc (Hons) in 1981, MED in 1984 and PHD in 1988. Dr. Ekpendu also attended the Prestigious National Institute for Policy and Strategy Studies (NIPSS) Kuru Jos in 2007.

“Before his present appointment as the Controller General, he held various positions in the prisons.

“He was Deputy Commandant Prisons Training, College, Lagos-1991-1994; Officer-in-Charge of Umuahia-1995-1996; Officer in charge of Owerri Prisons-1997-1998 and Deputy Controller of Prisons Training, Prisons Headquarters 1999.

“He was also Controller of Prisons Pension, Prisons Headquarters - 2000; Controller of Prisons of Enugu State 2001-2003, Imo State 2003-2005 and Delta State 2006.

“He was promoted Assistant Controller General of Prisons (Operations) 2008 and was deployed as Zonal Coordinator Zone D, Minna - 2009-2010 and he became Deputy Controller General (ITP) in 2011.

“Before his new appointment as the Controller General, he was Deputy Controller General (Administration) since 2012.”

•Photo shows new Controller General of Prisons, Dr. Peter Ezenwa Ekpendu.