The Nigerian Correctional Service has suspended two officers following the discovery that a convicted inmate attempted to process an international passport while incarcerated.
The shocking breach was revealed in a Saturday statement by Service Public Relations Officer DCC Abubakar Umar.
Umar explained that the misconduct was detected through the Nigeria Immigration Service’s automated passport application system, highlighting successful 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,” the statement read. “This particularly speaks to inter-agency collaboration and cooperation.”
The implicated officers were immediately suspended by the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board under Interior Minister Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo’s leadership. Umar quoted Controller General of Corrections Sylvester Nwakuche’s strong stance on discipline: “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 reaffirmed the NCoS’s commitment to its core mandates of secure custody, humane treatment, and inmate reformation according to international standards. The incident has prompted a review of internal procedures to prevent future breaches, with authorities investigating how the convicted inmate accessed passport application systems and which facilities were involved.
A convicted armed robber serving time at the Kirikiri Maximum Security Custodial Centre in Lagos, Haruna Ayo, was caught trying to process a passport and visa, according to a PUNCH news report.
The incident happened on Wednesday, May 19, 2025, when Ayo was moved by warders to the Nigeria Immigration Service passport office in FESTAC Town under suspicious circumstances. Ayo, who was sentenced to life imprisonment for robbery but had his term reduced, was expected to be released later this year on October 11.
Sources said the inmate was among five others selected for a domestic task at the residence of a senior prison officer. However, things took a strange turn when another officer allegedly instructed that Ayo be handed over for a different assignment.
It was later discovered that Ayo was taken to the passport office for documentation. While waiting to be attended to, the warder escorting him became anxious and insisted on returning him to prison. This strange behaviour made immigration officers suspicious. They detained both Ayo and the escorting officer, and alerted higher authorities.
A senior officer at the Nigerian Immigration Service confirmed that the matter was quickly reported to the Nigerian Correctional Service headquarters in Lagos. Following this, at least two prison officials, including one identified as Femi, were suspended.
Ayo had reportedly claimed he was receiving treatment at a nearby hospital, which allowed him to leave prison. But further checks revealed that three separate medical evaluations had already confirmed he was healthy. During these supposed medical visits, he was processing travel documents.
One source familiar with the situation said, “This convict used the excuse of illness to leave prison. He claimed he was visiting a hospital, but in reality, he was processing his passport and visa. It is likely he planned to escape the country.”
Another official said the incident is causing serious uproar at the custodial centre. “The question remains, how did a convict begin the passport and visa process while still serving time? Was he planning to run away? This is a huge embarrassment,” the source said.
This is not the first time the Nigerian Correctional Service has faced such controversy. Last year, officials were accused of collecting millions in bribes to give special treatment to popular cross-dresser Bobrisky while in custody. In another case, a convicted inmate was reportedly smuggled out of prison to visit his girlfriend.
This development comes amid ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s correctional system, including the recent introduction of biometric verification for inmates and staff. The NCoS has vowed to maintain zero tolerance for misconduct that could compromise national security or the integrity of the justice system.
