NCoS Suspends 2 Warders For Conniving To Obtain Passport For Prison Inmate
The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) has suspended two officers who attempted to process an international passport for a convicted armed robber, Haruna Ayo.
Ayo who was convicted to life imprisonment had his sentence reduced to 21 years and is due for release in October.
In a statement on Saturday, the NCoS public relations officer, Umar Abubakar, said the misconduct was detected through the automated passport application and other holistic reforms within the Nigeria Immigration Service a fortnight ago.
He noted that the detection was a result of inter-agency collaboration and cooperation.
According to him, such actions contradict established rules and procedures of the NCoS, and “are unacceptable and impermissible”.
“Subsequently, necessary disciplinary actions were taken including the suspension of the two correctional personnel implicated in the incident by the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB), chaired by the Honourable Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubumni Tunji-Ojo.
“The Controller General of Corrections (CGC) Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche MFR mni, has reiterated his commitment to upholding discipline, transparency, and professionalism in all custodial centres across the country.
“The Service categorically states that any personnel found engaging in acts of misconduct, corruption, or sabotage will be shown the way out of the system,” Abubakar stated.
During the outing, a subordinate officer, allegedly acting on orders from a superior, instructed the supervising warder to hand Ayo over to him.
He was then taken to the passport office, where immigration officers grew suspicious.
“While waiting to be attended to, the warder escorting him became impatient and said, ‘I need to take him back to the cell.’
“That statement triggered alarm among immigration officials, who detained both the inmate and the officer and escalated the matter,” the publication quoted a source as saying.
The NIS reported the case to the NCoS Lagos Command at Alagbon, which led to the suspension of two officers.
