No doubts there exist evidence and products of great prison reforms in countries where; prisons facilities have been preserved as correctional facilities, with the inmates having access to almost the same quality of life as those outside the prison walls, if not better.
The need for better prison reforms in Nigeria is no less buttressed by the story of; Musa Jack Ngonaadi Gowon who was recently granted a state pardon by the American President Obama, after spending 22 years in a Californian Prison in the United States.
Musa Jack Gowon is the son born to the former Nigerian head of state General Yakubu Gowon by the late Edith Ike Okongwu. Musa Jack Gowon had been living with his mother before his arrest and detention in prison in the United States.
Before his arrest and subsequent incarceration; Jack Musa have witnessed the separation of his parents and relocation of his mother to America carrying him along to live with her. Generally, it was alleged that General Yakubu Gowon was said to have severed all ties with Musa, as long as he remained with his mother.
Eventually, Musa was alleged to have been one of the business partners of a Colombian drug cartel. He lived a rich and flamboyant lifestyle until he was caught and arrested. Jack Musa Gowon was sentenced by the Jury although he protested vehemently that he was innocent through his legal team, but nevertheless he was harshly sentenced to 324 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
As an inmate of Taft correctional facility, Musa Jack Gowon was said to be a role model and a legal adviser to all the inmates. He was loved by both the fellow inmates and prison wardens.
While in prison Musa enrolled in one of the universities around and successfully graduated with a degree in law as a prison inmate. This commendable act of leadership earned him several rewards by the prison authorities.
Musa's family has never stopped fighting to get him out of the prison and calls for his release began to grow louder. President Obama heard the calls for Musa's release and acted in that regard by granting him a parole. Musa walked out of Taft correctional facility Bakersfield California as a free man on Tuesday November 2, 2015. Musa is at the time of this publication reported to be at ICE Detention Center Bakersfield CA where he will be subsequently deported back to Nigeria at any moment.
Musa Jack Ngonaadi Gowon, is grateful to his Dad General Yakubu Gowon, his friends and his relatives from his maternal side who stood by him and supported him also all through the period of his unjust incarceration that he did not commit the crime which he was wrongly accused of. Musa is expected to eventually narrate his ordeal and give his own version of the story very soon and he is said to have expressed his gratitude to God who kept him alive and well to see his release from prison.
This is one sure miracle of prison reform that is undeniable. The fact that there's access to higher education sponsored, allowed and funded by the Government in countries such as the united states is something to be emulated.
This is one sure miracle of prison reform that is undeniable. The fact that there's access to higher education sponsored, allowed and funded by the Government in countries such as the united states is something to be emulated.
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