The government has suspended the officers at the Kirikiri Custodial Centres in Lagos after an audio leak revealed that Bobrisky, who was sentenced to six months in jail, was provided an apartment outside the facility. This alarming development has raised serious concerns about the integrity of the correctional system.
Ja’afaru Ahmed, the Secretary of the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB), shared this information in a statement that was officially issued on Thursday in Abuja, emphasizing the government's commitment to addressing corruption within the prison system.
Recall that the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, had on Wednesday initiated a probe into the allegations against the prison officers, highlighting the government's zero-tolerance policy towards corruption and misconduct among prison staff.
Ahmed, in the statement, said the suspension of the officers is intended to allow for a thorough investigation into the various allegations, assuring the public that the outcome of the investigation would be made public once concluded to ensure transparency and accountability.[/p>
He stated, “Following the viral video trending on social media regarding alleged infractions by Officers of the Nigerian Correctional Service relating to Mr. Idris Okuneye, widely known as Bobrisky, the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board has suspended forthwith the following Senior Officers of the Service.”
“Michael Anugwa, Deputy Controller of Corrections (DCC), In-Charge of Medium Security Custodial Centre (MSCC), Kiri-kiri, Lagos State; and Sikiru Adekunle, Deputy Controller of Corrections (DCC), In-Charge of Maximum-Security Custodial Centre (MSCC), Kiri-kiri, Lagos State.”
“Additionally, the Board has suspended ASC II Ogbule Samuel Obinna, serving at the Medium Security Custodial Centre (MSCC), Afikpo, Ebonyi State, for allegedly accompanying a convicted inmate out of the Custodial Centre to a location outside the facility, further emphasizing the serious nature of the breaches.”
“In another related development, the Board has equally suspended another Senior Officer of the Service, Iloafonsi Kevin Ikechukwu, Deputy Controller of Corrections (DCC), In-Charge of Medium Security Custodial Centre (MSCC), Kuje- Abuja, for allegedly receiving monies on behalf of an inmate, which raises significant ethical and legal concerns regarding the management of inmates and the protection of public trust.”[/p>
This situation continues to unfold as the government seeks to reinforce the standards of conduct expected from prison officials and restore public confidence in the correctional system.