The Honorable Minister of Interior – Hon (Dr) Olubunmi Tunji – Ojo on the 30th of
September 2024 inaugurated a 5-persons Investigative panel tasked with the following:
(i). Investigate allegations of corruption, torture, cruel, inhumane, and degrading treatment of inmates by correctional officers; examine violations of laid down rules and regulations
governing the conduct of correctional officers and the treatment of inmates.
(ii) Identify hindrances to the effective implementation of the Nigerian Correctional Service
Act, 2019.
(iii) Identify activities and processes within the correctional system that encourage
corruption, poor treatment and welfare of inmates and staff, and human rights violations.
(iv) Provide strategic recommendations for promoting correctional best practices that align with international standards and;
(v) Undertake any other task(s) as may be assigned by the Honorable Minister of Interior in furtherance of these.
This Interim Report of the Panel focuses on the findings in relation to the investigation into specific cases, namely: Mr. Idris Okuneye widely known as Bobrisky and to verify if he served his sentence in the Nigerian Correctional Service custodial centers; and to ascertain the veracity of the claim that an inmate in Kuje Custodial Centre was intimidated, threatened and defrauded by the Officer-in-charge. It also highlighted other alleged violations by correctional officers which require further investigation as well as effective solutions.
The Panel deployed various approaches in undertaking the tasks assigned to it including, inspection visits to key correctional facilities; interviews with correctional officers, inmates, and administrators; interviews with alleged victims of the corrupt practices and other
interested parties (where possible); and the review of documents, records and files.
The findings of the Panel thus far show the following:
(i) The Panel did not find any evidence thus far that suggested that Mr. Idris Okuneye slept outside the Custodial Centre during the period of his imprisonment which was from 12th April 2024 to 5th August 2024 which is 6 Months correctional sentence with the usual 1/3 remission. During this period, he was transferred from Ikoyi Custodial Centre to MediumSecurity Custodial Center Kirikiri Apapa Lagos on 12th of April 2024 and on the 22nd of April 2024 from Medium Security Custodial Center Kirikiri to the Maximum-Security Custodial Center from where he was discharged after completion of his sentence on 5th August 2024.
The decisions to transfer Mr. Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju from Ikoyi Custody Centre Lagos to the Medium Security Custodial Centre Kirikiri Lagos on the 12th of April 2024 and from the Medium Security Custodial Centre Kirikiri Lagos to the Maximum-Security Custodial Centre Kirikiri, Lagos on 22nd April 2024 were made by Mr. Ben Rabbi – Freeman who was then the State Controller Lagos State Command. He is the current Assistant Controller General of Corrections (ACG) Zone ‘A’. The State Controllers of Corrections have the power by law to transfer an inmate from one custodial center to another within the same
State. Proper documentation of Okuneye Idris was not made prior, or as he was being
transferred from Ikoyi Custodial Centre to Medium Custodial Centre, and from Medium
Custodial Center Kirikiri Apapa Lagos to the Maximum Custodial Centre Kirikiri Apapa,
Lagos. The documents were later provided on the 28th of September 2024 and backdated to the 12th of April 2024 and 22nd April 2024 respectively. These are in violations of section 168 and 169 of the Nigerian Correctional Service Standing Order Custodial. The transfer of Mr. Okuneye Idris from the Medium Security Kirikiri Lagos to the Maximum-Security Kirikiri, Lagos being a first offender, violated section 16(4)(a) and (b) of the Nigerian Correctional Service 2019. The Panel also found that Mr. Okuneye Idris enjoyed several privileges while in custody both at the Medium-Security and the Maximum-Security Custodial Centers which include specially furnished single cells, humidifier, lots of visitation by his family members and friends as he desired, visits by his family members and friends held inside the office of the in-charge of the custodial center, floor rug, self- feeding, designated inmate to run errands for him, access to fridge and television, and possibly access to his phone. It is necessary to further investigate if the above privileges provided for Okuneye Idris were financially motivated and based on corrupt practices by correctional officers. The panel believes that the peculiar case of the inmate and the inmate physical look and behavior poses a threat and the lack of laid down rule for the treatment of such a case may have necessitated such privileges to be granted to Okuneye Idris. The Panel recommends that clear guidelines need to be set up to guide operations regarding such incidents in future. Steps should be taken to avoid the obvious discriminatory practices in relation to the socio-economic levels and other status of inmates.
On the Issue of Abdulrasheed Maina’s son sending money to the personal account of the Kuje Custodial Centre Deputy Controller of Corrections (DCC) Kelvin lloafonsi Ikechukwu, this was found to be true. DCC Kelvin Ikechukwu mentioned the money paid into his personal account by Abdulrasheed Maina’s son was for the purpose of Abdulrasheed Maina’s health and welfare needs. The Panel is of the view that DCC Kelvin Iloafonsi Ikechukwu acted unethically and brought himself and the Nigerian Correctional Service to great disrepute by requesting and receiving money into his personal account from Abdulrasheed Maina’s son. Also, the Panel is of the view that even if the transfers were made with Abdulrasheed Maina’s approval, this is still a violation as DCC Kelvin Iloafonsi Ikechukwu conduct was not consistent with institutional regulations. The Panel is of the view that all officers who are assigned to be in-charge of custodial center should be given proper training and orientation on administering custodial centers before their postings. There should also be people of integrity and good character, and that no officer without previous direct experience of heading a custodial center should be assigned to head a big and sensitive custodial center. Several allegations of systemic corruption, indiscipline and other unethical behaviors and gross violations of inmates which are wide-spread and are found across the various cadre and formations of the Nigerian Correctional Service need to be properly investigated and effective and sustainable solutions proffered. The gross under funding of the Nigerian Correctional Service, poor welfare package and working conditions of Correctional Officers are factors that encourage corruption and commercialization of provision of welfare and other services to inmates. The Panel commits to focus on these issues in its next phase of work which will involve calling for submission of memoranda and public hearings on these issues, thus displaying transparency, independence and sincerity of the Investigative Panel. The report also made recommendations for immediate actions.
