by Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has refuted media reports alleging that the personnel, who took an inmate out of the custodial centre for conjugal intimacy with his lover, in Afikpo, was pardoned by the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Board (CDCFIB), while the whistleblower was dismissed.
The Centre, in a refutation statement issued and made available to newsmen on Saturday night by its spokesman, Officer Umar Abubakar, described the reports as false, misleading and malicious, and was intended to tarnish the image of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
“The attention of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has been drawn to a misleading and malicious report published by Sahara Reporters alleging that a personnel who took an inmate out of the custodial centre for conjugal intimacy with his lover in Afikpo was pardoned by the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Board (CDCFIB), while the whistleblower was dismissed.
“The Service wishes to categorically state that this report is misleading and intended to tarnish the image of the Nigerian Correctional Service,” it stated.
According to the Centre, “The officer in question was dismissed after a thorough investigation by the disciplinary unit of the Service, and was found to have committed an act unbecoming of a public officer.
“Specifically, the erred offer was found guilty for taking unauthorized pictures of an inmate, by name Ibuchi Okoro Eze, within the premises of the Barracks of the Medium Security Custodial Centre (MSCC), Afikpo, and uploading same on the internet, it added.
“The dismissed officer, ASC 1 Efe Onakpoya, with Service number 57790, also made malicious allegations against the Service, including the false claim that an inmate was taken out of the Custodial Centre for conjugal intimacy with his lover.
“The statement, titled, ‘Refutation of malicious allegations against the NCoS,’ stressed that “The Centre is committed to maintaining the highest standards of discipline, integrity, and professionalism. The Service will not tolerate any behavior that undermines these values.
“The Service, therefore, urged the public to disregard the misleading report by Sahara Reporters and to be aware of the antics of mischief-makers, who seek to tarnish the image of our beloved Service,” it concluded.