By Omeiza Ajayi
The Nigerian Correctional Service NCoS has removed the Officer-in-Charge of the Ibara Medium Custodial Centre, Abeokuta, Ogun State, along with two other principal officers, pending investigations into the unauthorised use of a mobile phone by a death row inmate who went live on TikTok from custody.
The Service, in a statement issued by its Public Relations Officer, CSC Jane Osuji, said the Controller General of Corrections, Sylvester Nwakuche, ordered the removal of the affected officers to ensure a transparent and impartial investigative process.
The statement said the Service had noted with grave concern the media reports and public reactions trailing the viral live stream, describing the incident as a serious breach of custodial security and a violation of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, 2019, the Service Standing Orders and other extant regulations governing custodial operations.
According to the statement, preliminary findings confirmed that the inmate was in unlawful possession of a prohibited mobile phone, which he used to access social media while in lawful custody.
