Former Miss Heritage Africa (2016) and Miss Heritage Nigeria (2015), Benedicta Akpana, yesterday visited Suleja Custodian Centre where she cleared the fines of five inmates.
Akpana said her visit was to spread hope to the inmates, noting she intervened as they were in custody over inability to pay their fine.
The beauty queen, who gave items worth millions of naira to them and two infants, said it was to mark her birthday.
She said she was celebrating her birthday with the inmates, noting that those in custody deserve to be shown love.
The actress and movie producer said: “Speaking with these people and seeing the women here got me emotional. For a moment, I imagined what they would have been if they were not here. That someone is in prison doesn’t mean all hope is lost for them.
“So, we decided to come here today to spread hope. To tell our brothers and sisters here that if life gives them a second chance, they must make use of it and live it in full. We want them to understand it is not over for them just because they’re in prison. Our God is a God of second chance, and we know some of them would come out even stronger to fulfil their mandates in life. “
She called on well meaning Nigerians to take out time to visit and support the privileged in the society.
“We came here with the little we could afford; we’ve donated toiletries, provisions, food items and have cleared fines of five inmates that are here because of their inability to pay. We wanted to do more, but five were available, and from this experience, I want to be doing this more often and not just on my birthday’’, she said.
Deputy Controller of Prisons, Ibrahim Ya’u, thanked her for her generosity, assuring those whose fines have been paid that they would be taken to court the next day to finalise their release “
