Pictures of Chidinma and some other inmates participating in a beauty pageant on Thursday surfaced online.
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), formerly known as Nigerian Prison Service, has reacted to the public outrage that followed when pictures of Chidinma Ojukwu, the alleged killer of Super TV CEO, Micheal Ataga, winning a beauty pageant in jail, surfaced on the internet.
Pictures of Chidinma and some other inmates participating in a beauty pageant on Thursday surfaced online.
Chidinma, a 300-level Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos, and two others are on trial over Ataga’s murder.
She participated in a beauty pageant alongside other ladies at the correctional facility and emerged the winner of the competition.
NCoS Lagos State Command confirmed the news, explaining the reason behind the beauty pageant.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Rotimi Oladokun 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.
He 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 added.
Otunba Sesan Limelite had posted on his Facebook page on Thursday morning, “Chidinma Ojukwu, the alleged killer of Super TV CEO, Micheal Ataga has been crowned as MISS CELL 2022 at a beauty pageant held within Kirikiri correctional facility to mark the 2022 International Women’s Day.”
Some of those who commented on the post however expressed disappointment at the pageant.
For instance, Okeneye Washington Oluwaseun Ayobami said, “We are all mad in this country! So Micheal Ataga's ghost will b clapping for her in d grave.”
Asiwaju Amid Oluwasheun Oloriire said, “What nonsense! Ẹni t'oku ni tiẹ gbé hmmmmm, its better someone don't wait to be killed or else hmmmmm.”