The show promoter of Mr and Miss Nigeria International, Mr Brendan Nsikak, has lauded the participation of Chidinma Ojukwu, the suspected killer of Super TV Chief Executive Officer, Michael Ataga, in the ‘Miss Cell 2022’ pageant organised for female inmates by the Nigerian Correctional Services.

Nsikak, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Brendance and Crusader Limited, gave the commendation in an interview with newsmen on Friday in Lagos, while reacting to the Miss Cell Pageant held within the Kirikiri correctional facility, and won by Chidinma.

Chidinma is standing trial for the murder of Ataga at the Lagos High Court, sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square.

“I commend the initiative and salute the courage of the participants, and to the ‘ Miss Cell 2022’, let her live her life until the judgment is served and passed on her,” Nsikak said.

The ‘Miss Cell’ beauty pageant was organised on March 8 as one of several activities lined up to mark International Women’s Day at the Kirikiri correctional facility.

Nsikak described the initiative as worthwhile, saying it was part of social activities to keep the inmates in sound mind and good spirit.

“It is a commendable step for Ojukwu to have the courage and boldness to take part in the competition, in spite of her ongoing trials at the courts.

“The Nigerian Correctional Services is living up to their responsibilities and being proactive by putting up such events and other programmes meant to keep inmates warm and make the environment lively.

“Everyone is aware that Chidinma, the prime suspect in the ongoing trial of the murder case of Ataga is still under prison custody and has not been convicted or found guilty,” Nsikak said.

He noted that it was fundamental to keep the inmates meaningfully engaged with activities, against quarrelling and fights while in custody, as well as help them from being depressed.

“While inmates are being encouraged in skills acquisitions, education and creativity, those who have flair for pageantry or entertainment should also be given a platform to showcase their potential,” he added.

Moreso, the Nigerian Prison Service Kirikiri has explained the reason it permitted Chidinma Ojukwu, and other inmates at its facilities to participate in the beauty pageant.

The prison’s Lagos State Command said the pageant was only one of several other activities organised to mark International Women’s Day (IWD).

IWD is celebrated annually on March 8, to commemorate the social, political and economic achievements of women.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) Rotimi Oladokun said that the pageant and all the other events were open to all female inmates, whether convicted or awaiting trial.

Oladokun, a Superintendent, said: “I haven’t seen the pictures you are talking about. But in line with International Women’s Day, the female custodial facilities commemorated International Women’s Day with inmates, various inmates without distinction or discrimination against anybody – an inmate is an inmate.

“All the inmates in different cell blocks presented various programmes. Some did theatre presentations, others drama, some poetry, some beauty pageant, some drawings, paintings, comedy. So, various blocks won. It was just like an inter-cell block event.

“There were lots of presentations. It was not an individual thing. It was just the facility’s way of trying to reform the inmates, those still in custody.

“So, that’s why they commemorated International Women’s Day, that’s why it was done in the female facility, not the male’s.”

Referring to Ojukwu, the spokesman said: “The particular inmate, I don’t know her name. There were various winners.

“The costumes were made by the inmates in the facility and some of the winners got sponsorship to pay for their UME forms, NECO, WASSCE and higher education. Some donated libraries to us, apart from some other stationery, and welfare resources. It was not an individual event, so the prizes were collective.”

He further explained that Chidinma could have been a representative of a block.

“There were representatives for each block, so maybe the inmate you are referring to was one of such representatives, but it was not an individual event, it was a collective one commemorating International Women’s Day,” Oladokun stated.