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By Correspondent in Abuja.
The Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Mr Sylvester Nwakuche, has ordered an immediate investigation into allegations of extortion levelled against officers at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
Our correspondent reports that yhe directive followed a petition by a legal practitioner, Mr Bala Dakum, accusing the officer in charge of the facility and his aides of grave misconduct, including extortion of inmates, abuse of office and corruption.
The NCoS Public Relations Officer, Ms Jane Osuji, disclosed the development in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
She assured that the service would not sweep the allegations under the carpet.
“We are in receipt of the petition, and the Controller-General has already directed a full investigation to ascertain the veracity of the claims. The Nigerian Correctional Service does not treat such allegations with kid gloves.
“These allegations strike at the core of our mandate, and we will not allow anyone within the system to undermine what we are building,” she said.
Osuji added that the investigation had commenced and would be handled professionally by the appropriate department.
She noted that the petitioner might be contacted to provide evidence to aid the probe.
“If the allegations are found to have merit, appropriate disciplinary measures will be taken, and the petitioner will be duly informed of the outcome,” she said.
Dakum, Principal Partner at B.I. Dakum & Co., in a petition dated Feb. 11, also copied the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
The lawyer, who said he represents over 100 inmates at the facility, called for an independent and thorough investigation into the allegations and urged the service to sanction any officer found culpable.
According to him, inmates, their families and other credible sources have alleged that the officer in charge used his position to facilitate systematic extortion through aides.
He claimed the alleged acts included unlawful demands for payment in exchange for access to basic rights and privileges such as medical care, movement within the facility and humane treatment.
Dakum further alleged that the actions were carried out with the knowledge or tacit approval of the officer, creating an atmosphere of fear and exploitation within the correctional centre.
He argued that such conduct, if established, would constitute serious violations of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, the Public Service Rules and the constitutional rights of inmates, while undermining public confidence in the correctional system.
The lawyer warned that the situation could trigger unrest among inmates if not promptly addressed, potentially endangering both inmates and officers.
Among his demands, Dakum called for an independent probe, forensic examination of the officers’ bank accounts, redeployment of the officers to non-sensitive positions pending the outcome of investigations, and appropriate disciplinary and legal action where necessary.
He said he wrote the petition in the overriding public interest and to safeguard the rights and dignity of persons in custody.
While noting that he did not attach evidence of alleged fund transfers in the interest of his clients’ safety, Dakum said he would make such evidence available upon request.
