The Nigerian Correctional Service has started investigation into the circumstances surrounding the movement of a robbery convict, Haruna Ayo, to a passport office in Lagos for processing of travel documents.

According to The PUNCH, the incident happened on Wednesday, May 19, 2025, when warders from the Kirikiri Maximum Security Custodial Centre, Apapa, moved the inmate to the Nigeria Immigration Service passport office at FESTAC Town under suspicious circumstances.

According to a credible source, Ayo was convicted for armed robbery and sentenced to life imprisonment, which was later reduced to 21 years on appeal and further reviewed downward after some consideration. He was due for release on October 11, 2025.

It was learnt that the inmate was among five convicts selected to do a menial job at the residence of the officer in charge of the custodial centre on the day of the incident.

During the outing, an orderly, who claimed to be acting on the instruction of another superior officer, told the supervising officer to release Ayo to him.

A source disclosed that the inmate was subsequently transported to the passport office.

“However, while waiting to be attended to, the warder escorting him became impatient and said, ‘I need to take him back to the cell’.

“This raised suspicion among immigration officers, who then detained both the inmate and the warder and alerted their superiors,” the source added.

The PUNCH learnt that the NIS escalated the matter to the Lagos headquarters of the NCS, Alagbon.

Two officers were reportedly suspended over the incident.

The source identified one of the affected officers as one Femi.

“I think the real culprits are not being punished. It’s a system and many people are involved,” the source said.

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Another source explained that the convict had been using medical pretences to process the passport and visa.

She said, “What happened was that this particular inmate, a convict, claimed he had a health problem, which necessitated his visit to a hospital in that neighbourhood. However, during the process, he started processing his passport and visa documents by proxy.

“The whole thing started last year and he seemed to be progressing with the passport and visa applications until the correctional service started probing the Bobrisky case (Idris Okuneye). The convict’s case was not known that time. Apparently, he was among those enjoying special treatments in the maximum prison.

“After the suspension of top officers, things changed as new officers took over. Security was tightened and people who enjoyed certain privileges had those things withdrawn.

“This particular convict then started protesting and threatening blackmail. His conduct led to investigations. A search was conducted and it was discovered he had been processing the travel documents. It is suspected that the hospital where he claimed to be receiving treatment was also involved in the compromise. The prison authorities discovered that three medical evaluations had already cleared him that he was medically fit. Whereas he was using that to do all manner of things.”

Another source said the matter was causing a serious storm at the custodial centre.

“The question remains, how will a convict be processing passport and visa? Was he planning to escape? It’s a big mess,” the source said.

This latest revelation adds to the long list of corrupt practices in the country’s correctional service.

In the past, some warders were accused of extorting money from inmates, selling donated items and giving VIP treatments in exchange for bribes.

In 2024, the correctional service was embroiled in a mess after the Baale of Kirikiri, Babalola Shabi, accused prison officials of collecting N35m to give Bobrisky special treatment during his sentence.

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A leaked voice note also purported the cross-dresser paid huge sums of money to get special apartment at the prison, which led to the suspension of some senior officers.

Similarly in 2024, officers at the Afikpo Custodial Centre, Ebonyi State, allegedly smuggled an inmate, Ibuchi Eze, out of prison for a private visit to his girlfriend.

The NSC confirmed the latest incident, adding that investigation was ongoing.

The Service National Public Relations Officer, Abubakar Umar, also confirmed the suspension of an officer.

“The staff member suspected to have committed the act has been suspended, and investigation is ongoing. The suspension is necessary to ensure a smooth process,” Umar stated.

“The Comptroller-General does not take issues of indiscipline or sabotage lightly. This administration, under President Bola Tinubu, places high priority on the welfare of correctional officers, and the CG has made it clear that outstanding performance will be rewarded. However, any officer found engaging in illegal activities will be shown the way out; they are not worthy of wearing the uniform,” he added.

Umar noted that further updates would be made public at the conclusion of the investigation.

Experts decry sleaze

Speaking on the matter, legal experts wondered how a serving inmate could reach the passport application stage without detection or red flags.

They also raised concerns on why inmates were still being used for domestic work in private residences of top officials.

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Reacting to the incident, a legal practitioner, Tolu Babaleye, described the development as a disgrace to the correctional service system.

“When somebody is in a correctional centre, they are not supposed to go outside the four walls of the facility. The whole idea is for the inmate to reflect, show remorse, and reform. But when that process is undermined and inmates are taken out for pleasure or personal errands, justice is subverted and the essence of the sentence is defeated.

“In some cases, convicted robbers are taken out to commit more crimes, then return to prison to share the proceeds with warders. It’s disgusting. This speaks volumes about the level of decay in the system,” he added.

Similarly, a human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, said, “The essence of incarceration is the restriction of liberty. An inmate cannot be taken out of custody unless by a court order, for judicial proceedings, or if sentenced to community service. Anything outside this is illegal.”

Effiong warned that allowing inmates to leave the facility for personal activities, including sexual engagements, was a direct violation of the law.

“The Correctional Service must hold all officers involved accountable and put mechanisms in place to prevent a recurrence,” he urged.

A former Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Dr Monday Ubani (SAN), also expressed dismay at the incident.

“It reflects a dangerous level of laxity within the correctional service. Inmates should not leave custody unless there is a valid court order or legitimate assignment. Anything contrary is a subversion of the justice system,” he said.

Ubani stressed the need for strict discipline within the Correctional Service.

“If a convicted criminal escapes while being moved illegally, it undermines the entire justice system. The leadership of the correctional service must enforce internal discipline and restore the integrity of the institution. Allowing convicted persons to roam freely reflects poorly on the Ministry of Interior and should not be tolerated,” he said.
(PUNCH)

No fewer than 12 travellers from the Basawa community in Zaria, Kaduna State, were killed during an attack in Mangu, Plateau State, on Friday.

Eleven others sustained injuries and are currently receiving hospital treatment.

The victims, a group of 31 men, women, and children, were travelling in an 18-seater bus belonging to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, when assailants attacked them around 8pm.

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Report indicated that the travellers were heading for Qua’an Pan LGA to attend a wedding ceremony when they ran into a mob.

The Chief Imam of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’a Wa’ikamatis Sunnah, Sheikh Suleiman Haruna, who confirmed the incident to journalists, said the corpses have been deposited at Mangu General Hospital.

“There were 31 travellers in the bus. Now we have 8 corpses in the hospitals. We have asked the security personnel to help recover the remaining four bodies. We were together with the chairman of Mangu LGA, and he has been up and doing on the matter, “ the Chief Imam said.

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Ibrahim Umar, one of the survivors, narrated that, “We were heading to Qua’an Pan to attend a wedding ceremony of our brother when we missed the road because we didn’t know it. We stopped and asked some people for directions, but before we knew it, they surrounded the vehicle, shouting that we should be killed.

“They started beating and attacking us with dangerous weapons. The mob killed the driver first and then attacked others. They burned the bus with the corpses inside. We are now in the hospital, receiving care.”

When contacted, the spokesperson of the state police command, DSP Alfred Altau, said, “The police were aware of the incident but would issue a statement regarding it later.”

A Grade A Customary Court sitting at Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, has adjourned for judgment a divorce suit brought before it by a woman, Leah, against her husband, Olalere, whom she accused of irresponsibility, constant battery and threat.

Leah stated that no marriage ceremony was held between her and Olalere and that he did not pay her bride price.

The plaintiff stated that the defendant neglected her and their child and left them to starve.

According to her, she and their child always looked malnourished.

Leah added that she and her husband fought almost every day because he was indifferent to their plight.

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She stated that she moved about in their neighbourhood in shame because her husband was also in the habit of tearing her clothes to shreds and leaving her stark naked under the stare of neighbours and passers-by any time they fought.

The plaintiff said she moved out of his house with their only child when it was obvious that he would soon snuff life out of her.

The plaintiff explained that the defendant had insisted on having their child in his custody and had not ceased to threaten her.

Leah thus prayed the court to end their relationship and grant her custody of their child but make her husband responsible for his upkeep.

She further sought an order restraining him from threatening and interfering with her private life. Olalere was absent in court despite being served court summonses.

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Leah, in her evidence, said: “My husband and I started living together shortly after we met. I moved into his house, and he did not meet my parents nor pay my bride price.

“I never enjoyed our marriage because my husband failed in his responsibility towards me and later our child.

“He never gave me feeding allowance and was not bothered about my welfare and that of our child. Our child and I always looked like a scarecrow because we were malnourished.

“My husband always got angry whenever I complained of his neglect of us, and he would beat me to a pulp.

“He not only beat me but would tear my clothes to shreds and leave me stark naked in the presence of our neighbours and passersby.

“I always moved around in our neighbourhood with my head bowed because of the way my husband humiliated me.

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“I moved out of his house with our only child when I could no longer bear with his maltreatment of me.

“He has since refused that I had peace of mind.

“My husband now threatens to take our child from me.

“I plead that our marriage be dissolved and our child’s custody be granted to me.

“I further entreat the court to make my husband responsible for our child’s upkeep, giving feeding, education and health care a priority.

“I also request an order restricting him from threatening and interfering with my private life.”

The court president, Mrs S.M. Akintayo, adjourned the case and ordered that a fresh hearing notice be issued and served the defendant.
(TRIBUNE)