The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has confirmed the suspension of four senior officers, including those from its Kirikiri and Kuje facilities, following their alleged roles in various acts of misconduct.
This announcement follows a trending video in which one of the suspended officers claimed the Service had not served him a suspension letter as directed.
In a statement signed by Umar Abubakar, Assistant Controller of Corrections Public Relations Officer, the NCoS labeled the video as “an act of gross misconduct aimed at misleading the public on the issue at hand.”
The Service clarified that the officer in the video, alongside three others, was suspended as part of ongoing investigations.
The suspended officers include Deputy Controller of Corrections (DCC) Sikiru Adekunle, Officer-in-charge of the Maximum Security Custodial Centre, Kirikiri, Lagos; DCC Michael Anugwa, Officer-in-charge of the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kirikiri; DCC Kevin Ikechukwu Iloafonsi, Officer-in-charge of Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje, FCT; and Assistant Superintendent of Corrections (ASC II) Ogbule Samuel Obinna of Medium Security Custodial Centre, Abakiliki, Ebonyi state.
According to the statement, “two letters were issued by the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) with reference Nos: CDCFIB/NCOS/DISP/016/VOL.II/16 and CDCFIB/NCOS/DISP/016/VOL.II/17 both dated 26th September, 2024, suspending the aforementioned Officers.” The NCoS confirmed that the suspension took effect on the same date.
The public was urged to “remain resolute” as investigations continue. The Service emphasized that “any person or group of persons found culpable would be punished in line with the Public Service Rules as well as other extant laws.”
The NCoS reassured the public of its commitment to conducting thorough investigations and maintaining discipline within the Service.
The statement added, “attention of the Nigerian Correctional Service has been drawn to a trending video of one of its Senior Officers purporting that the Service has not served him a letter of suspension as earlier directed by the Civil Defence, Correctional Fire, and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB). The Service views this as an act of gross misconduct aimed at misleading the public on the issue at hand.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Nigerian Correctional Service suspended not only the said Officer in the video, but three (3) other Officers following their alleged roles in various misconducts so as to allow for further investigation.
“The suspended officers are the officer-in-charge of the Maximum Security Custodial Centre, Kirikiri, Lagos, Deputy Controller of Corrections (DCC) Sikiru Adekunle; the Officer-in-charge of the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kirikiri, Lagos, Deputy Controller of Corrections (DCC) Michael Anugwa; the Officer-in-charge of the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje, FCT Command, DCC Kevin Ikechukwu Iloafonsi; and Assistant Superintendent of Corrections (ASC II) Ogbule Samuel Obinna of the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Abakiliki, Ebonyi state.”
Meanwhile, on Monday, Deputy Controller of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Michael Anugwa, dispelled the media reports of his suspension from the service.
Anugwa is the officer in charge of Medium Security Custodial Centre (MSCC), Kirikiri, Lagos State, where cross-dresser Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, served his term.
Recall that on Thursday, the secretary to Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB), Ja’afaru Ahmed, announced the suspension of Anugwa and Sikiru Adekunle, deputy controller of corrections in the MSCC.
A social media influencer, Martins Otse known as VeryDarkMan, had alleged in viral videos that some officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) collected N15million from Bobrisky for the anti-graft agency to drop money laundering charges against him during his naira spraying ordeal in April after which a court sentenced him to six months’ imprisonment.
The influencer had also alleged that Bobrisky paid some millions of naira to secure a choice place in prison.
Bobrisky has since denied the allegations while the EFCC and the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) had ordered investigations into the allegations by the blogger.
Ahmed, however, in a statement announcing the suspension of some officers, had said it was to allow for further investigation of the various allegations.
But addressing members of the House of Representatives joint committee on financial crimes and reformatory institutions, Anugwa dispelled the allegations.
The committee is investigating the bribery allegation against the anti-graft agency and the NCoS.
“It was a social media report. I wasn’t served a letter,” he said.
News22 hours ago