The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and accountability with the presentation and validation of the report of an independent investigative panel probing alleged misconduct within the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).
The panel was constituted following allegations of corruption and abuse of office involving senior correctional officials linked to the custody conditions of convicted crossdresser, Bobrisky.
The controversy gained public attention in September 2024 after a leaked audio released by social media influencer VeryDarkMan suggested that bribes were paid to secure preferential treatment for the inmate during a six-month sentence.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ engagement in Abuja, Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, confirmed that implicated officers, including an Assistant Controller General, have been dismissed from service.
He said the action underscores the government’s zero tolerance for corruption within correctional facilities and signals the beginning of far-reaching reforms across the NCoS.
According to the minister, the panel, inaugurated on November 24, 2024, conducted a 16-month investigation involving extensive consultations and analysis to expose systemic weaknesses within the service.
Tunji-Ojo stated that the findings would guide reforms focused on improving staff welfare, infrastructure, and service delivery, while aligning Nigeria’s correctional system with global best practices.
He stressed that correctional centres must move beyond basic detention functions to serve as centres for rehabilitation, reorientation, and reintegration of inmates into society.
The minister also warned that additional officers found culpable during the implementation phase of the report would face appropriate sanctions.
Highlighting the pressure on correctional facilities, Tunji-Ojo disclosed that over 67 per cent of inmates are awaiting trial, while more than 90 per cent are state offenders, placing a heavy burden on federal institutions.
He called for the nationwide adoption of non-custodial sentencing to ease congestion and improve justice delivery, adding that some correctional centres are undergoing rehabilitation or relocation due to urban expansion.
Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, described the panel’s outcome as a decisive move toward restoring integrity in correctional administration, noting that its recommendations would strengthen accountability across the sector.
The engagement brought together key stakeholders, including the Nigerian Bar Association President, Afam Osigwe; Controller-General of NCoS, Sylvester Nwakuche; representatives of UNICEF; the National Human Rights Commission; the Legal Aid Council; and state Attorneys-General.
Read also:
- Bobrisky denies N15 Million bribe claims, released by EFCC
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- Bobrisky transferred to FCID Lagos amid controversy
In his remarks, Nwakuche described the investigative panel as a necessary step toward rebuilding public confidence, stressing that accountability remains the foundation of trust between institutions and citizens.
He acknowledged that while some officers failed in their duties, many others continue to serve with integrity under difficult conditions.
Stakeholders at the meeting called for sustained collaboration across the justice sector, with key recommendations including expanded use of non-custodial sentencing, improved access to justice, protection of vulnerable groups, and stronger oversight mechanisms within the correctional system.
