The Kuje Correctional Facility was heavily attacked Tuesday night, which allowed some prisoners to escape.

The facility has taken over as the "VIP prison" for well-known Nigerians, replacing Kirikiri Maximum Security Correctional Facility. There are now several former MPs, governors, and terrorists living there.

Some well-known Nigerians, including the Senate Chief Whip, Orji Uzor Kalu, Adamawa Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, Olisa Metuh, and Femi Fani-Kayode, have had brief run-ins with the law.

As may be noted, the court denied Nnamdi Kanu's request to be transferred to Kuje Prison while he is being held by the DSS. Nnamdi Kanu is the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra.

Despite the status of the correctional centre, questions have been raised against the backdrop of the ease with which terrorists successfully attacked the prison and freed inmates, including several terrorists.

While terrorists operated at the facility for hours, a major military formation is in Gwagwalada, and there are several military checkpoints just 15 minutes from the prison. In addition, major cantonments like Mogadishu, Niger, and Lungi are less than 45 minutes from the prison.

Following the attack, Nigerians on social media speculated that disgraced'supercop’ Abba Kyari and other convicted politicians could have used the opportunity to escape imprisonment.

Here is a list of prominent Nigerians at the Kuje Correctional Facility:

Abba Kyari

The disgraced ex-head of the Intelligence Response Team is currently languishing at the Kuje correctional facility over his ongoing narcotics and evidence tampering charges.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency had filed eight-count charges against Kyari, and he had been reprimanded at Kuje, alongside some other police officers.

Justice Emeka Nwike had ordered Kyari, ACP Sunday Ubia, Inspector Simon Agirgba, Inspector John Nuhu, and Bawa James to be sent to Kuje.

Joshua Dariye

The former Governor of Plateau State would not have risked running out of prison considering that he recently got a state pardon. The National Council of States in Dariye granted Dariye and 158 others pardon, although the ex-governor is yet to be released.

The former governor was convicted of embezzling N2 billion belonging to Plateau State while he was governor from 1999 to 2007. He was handed a 14-year sentence by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory. However, the sentence was commuted by the Supreme Court to 10 years.

Rev Jolly Nyame

Like Dariye, Mr. Nyame is a beneficiary of the controversial presidential pardon of President Buhari. The former Governor of Taraba State from 1999 to 2007 was convicted in 2018 by Justice Bukola Banjoko, and the sentence was affirmed by the Supreme Court in 2020.

Abdulrasheed Maina

Once upon a time, Mr. Maina was the Chairman of the powerful Pension Reform Task Force under President Goodluck Jonathan. He was appointed in 2010 to cleanse the system.

In 2012, a Senate committee accused him of embezzling N100 billion. He was dismissed from service after going into hiding.

Mr. Justice Okon Abang had handed Mr. Maina 8 years' imprisonment for stealing billions from pensioners.

Mr. Maina gained celebrity status after his cat and mouse episode with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission until he was arrested alongside his 20-year-old son, Faisal.

He resurfaced after the emergence of Buhari. It would be recalled that he was clandestinely reinstated into the civil service and promoted, but following the outrage, the government fired him.

Farouq Lawan

Lawan's is a clear case of grace to grass. The former Kano lawmaker was charged with investigating petroleum subsidies during Jonathan’s administration. He fell after a sting operation by the DSS exposed him for using the committee to milk oil marketers.

Femi Otedola’s $600,000 exposed Lawan, who was one of the leaders of the caucus that removed Patricia Etteh as the Speaker of the House.

Lawan is currently in Kuje after a court sentenced him to 7 years of imprisonment.

Peter Nwachukwu

The husband of popular gospel artist, Osinachi, is also at the Kuje Correctional Centre in the ongoing case of homicide.

The Federal Capital Territory High Court remanded Mr. Nwachukwu in prison while the case is ongoing.