The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has suspended two officers following the discovery that a convicted inmate attempted to process an international passport while in custody, according to a statement released on Saturday in Abuja.
NCoS Public Relations Officer, Abubakar Umar, revealed that the misconduct was detected through the Nigeria Immigration Service's (NIS) automated passport application system, highlighting the effectiveness of inter-agency cooperation.
"The Service wishes to clarify that this misconduct was uncovered a fortnight ago through reforms introduced in the NIS, which flagged the irregularity. This particularly speaks to inter-agency collaboration and cooperation," Umar stated.
Disciplinary Measures Implemented
The implicated officers were suspended by the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB), under the leadership of Interior Minister Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, as part of disciplinary measures to address the breach.
Controller General of Corrections, Mr. Sylvester Nwakuche, reaffirmed the Service's commitment to maintaining discipline, transparency, and professionalism across all custodial facilities nationwide.
"The Service categorically states that any personnel found engaging in acts of misconduct, corruption or sabotage will be shown the way out of the system," Nwakuche warned.
Commitment to Correctional Standards
The NCoS emphasized its dedication to its core mandates of secure custody, humane treatment, and the reformation of inmates in accordance with international standards.
This incident comes amid ongoing efforts to strengthen security protocols within Nigeria's correctional facilities and improve coordination between law enforcement and security agencies.
The case highlights potential vulnerabilities in the correctional system that could be exploited by inmates and raises questions about oversight mechanisms within custodial facilities.
The NCoS has not disclosed the identity of the inmate involved or provided details about how the passport application process was initiated from within the correctional facility.
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