The Federal Government has inaugurated an independent
investigative panel to probe allegations of corruption and gross violations of
standard operating procedures within the Nigeria Correctional Service NCoS.
The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo,
inaugurated the committee on Monday in Abuja.
He said the committee must also look at the recent
allegation that some correctional service personnel had provided an alternative
accommodation for convicted cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye, also known as
Bobrisky.
The panel, according to the minister, became necessary to
sanitize the Service towards attaining transparency and accountability.
Recall that the Minister, who is also the Chairman of the
Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board, CDCFIB, had
suspended several officers overseeing the Maximum and Minimum Custodial Centres
in Kirikiri, Lagos State, following allegations of misconduct involving
Bobrisky.
Dr Tunji-Ojo noted the need for a holistic approach to
unravel the issues being investigated, through empirical and fact-finding
processes that will proffer lasting solutions to the challenges.
“We want to reform the correctional service. Your core
responsibility is to investigate specific allegations of corruption, torture,
and mistreatment of inmates by correctional officers, especially the immediate
one on Bobrisky which I expect to be out in two weeks,” he said.
Headed by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Magdalene
Ajani, the Minister charged the committee to uphold justice without fear or
favour to any party.
The minister said: “We will rely on your legal guidance to
be sure that whatever we do is in line with the law of the land.
“We will rely on you to be able to come up with a way
forward, as well as facts that would be made public to Nigerians.
“I want to say this
very clearly, nobody will be shielded. Nobody, no matter how highly placed,
will be shielded.”
While proposing medium and long-term solutions to prevent
future occurrences, the minister further charged the committee to identify
systemic issues contributing to violations within the service and recommend
concrete actions for immediate redress and policy reforms.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, who is also the
Chairperson of the Investigation Panel, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, stated that the
committee would do their best to deliver on the mandate.
Members
The committee comprises Omotese Eva (Mrs.), Director Legal;
Nasir Usman, Director, Joint Services; Dr. Uju Agomoh, President, Prisoners’
Rehabilitation and Welfare Action, PRAWA, who is a former Board Member of the
International Corrections and Prisons Association (ICPA); and Dr. Ikechukwu
Ezeugo, Human Rights Radio consultant, a Forensic Researcher and Social Impact
Expert with over 27 years experience in corporate leadership.
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