The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has suspended two of its personnel following revelations that a convicted inmate attempted to process an international passport while still in custody.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja by the Service’s Public Relations Officer, Abubakar Umar.
According to Umar, the irregularity was detected through the automated passport application system operated by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), reflecting the growing impact of inter-agency collaboration in uncovering misconduct.
“The Service wishes to clarify that this misconduct was uncovered a fortnight ago through reforms introduced in the NIS, which flagged the irregularity,” Umar said.
He added that the officers implicated in the incident have been suspended by the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB), under the directive of the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, as part of disciplinary action.
The statement also quoted the Controller General of Corrections, Sylvester Nwakuche, as reaffirming the NCoS’s zero-tolerance stance on misconduct and corruption.
“The Service is fully committed to its core mandates of secure custody, humane treatment, and the reformation of inmates in line with international standards,” the Controller-General stated.
He warned that any personnel found complicit in acts of sabotage or professional misconduct would face immediate dismissal.
The incident underscores the importance of enhanced surveillance and coordination among Nigeria’s security and law enforcement agencies, as the country continues efforts to reform its criminal justice system.
