The Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board has suspended four senior officers of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) over alleged misconduct, including two officers implicated in a viral video involving Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky.
In a statement released on Thursday, the Board announced the immediate suspension of Michael Anugwa, Deputy Controller of Corrections (DCC), in charge of the Medium Security Custodial Centre (MSCC), Kirikiri, Lagos State, and Sikiru Adekunle, DCC, in charge of the Maximum Security Custodial Centre (MSCC), Kirikiri. The suspension comes in response to allegations of infractions tied to their official duties.
“The suspension of these officers is to allow for further investigation on the various allegations, while assuring that the outcome would be made public when concluded,” said Ja’afaru Ahmed, Secretary to the Board.
Chronicle NG in an earlier report confirmed that the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has ordered a thorough investigation into allegations of bribery within the Nigerian Correctional Service.
Although Mr. Tunji-Ojo did not mention any specific case, his directive follows a video shared by Martins Otse, a.k.a. VeryDarkMan, in which Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, claimed that after his sentencing, his godfather, in collaboration with the Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, arranged for him to serve his six-month sentence in a private apartment.
In a separate case, the Board also suspended ASC II Ogbule Samuel Obinna, stationed at MSCC Afikpo, Ebonyi State. Obinna allegedly accompanied a convicted inmate out of the custodial centre to an unauthorized location.
Furthermore, Iloafonsi Kevin Ikechukwu, DCC of MSCC Kuje, Abuja, was suspended following allegations that he received money on behalf of an inmate, violating the code of conduct of the service.
Ahmed emphasized the importance of integrity within the Nigerian Correctional Service, stating, “The Board remains committed to maintaining discipline and transparency in the Service. Any officer found culpable will face appropriate disciplinary action.”
The Board assured the public that the outcome of the investigations would be communicated once concluded, reinforcing its zero-tolerance stance on misconduct within the Service.
