By TAIYE AGBAJE

Mr Sylvester Nwakuche, the Controller-General, Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), on Friday, ordered the immediate investigation of his officers at Kuje Correctional Centre accused of extorting inmates in the facility.

The order followed a petition written by a lawyer, Mr Bala Dakum, accusing the controller in charge of Kuje Correctional Centre and his aides of engaging in series of grave allegations bordering on extortion of inmates, abuse of office, corruption and gross misconduct.

The Public Relations Officer of NCoS, Ms Jane Osuji, made the disclosure in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

Osuji assured that such allegations would not be swept under the carpet.

“We are in receipt of the petition that you sent me a copy of; the office of the CG has received it and it is disheartening to read such allegations put out by a lawyer.

“I will tell you that, of course, the Controller-General and the Nigerian Correctional Service, as a whole, will not take kindly to such allegations; we don’t treat them with kit gloves.

“It is something that speaks negatively to the whole essence of us achieving our mandate. So we don’t take it kindly.

“Immediately after our conversation yesterday, when the CG got the message, he ordered for a full investigation to ascertain the veracity of that claim to ensure that such a thing, if it is true, is not condoned by the service at all.

We cannot be building and tearing down at the same time or allow anybody within our system to tear down what we are building everyday.

“My brother, my response is, we have received the petition and investigation has already commenced.

“Of course, like the petition said, if need be, we will be contacting the petitioner/the lawyer because his evidence will assist us to get to the root of the allegations.

“If need be, the investigators might be reaching out to him too. But it is not in my place to say now.

“We have a department that deals with this and it will be professionally handled so that we can punish people that need to be punished, if there is need, and make known, respond appropriately to the petitioner on what has been done and what will be done.

“I believe the lawyer has the evidence which he must have gotten before now.

“So we are going to get across to him for those evidence and do our due diligence to get to the root of the matter

“We will not sweep this under the carpet. This is not something we take kindly too.

“If and when it is investigated, there is merit to it, it will be made known to the petitioner,” Osuji said.

NAN earlier reported that Dakum, the Principal Partner of B.I. Dakum & Co law firm, had written the petition, dated Feb. 11, to the CG.

He equally copied the the Minister of Justice and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and his counterpart in the Ministry of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.

The lawyer, who said he is a solicitor to over 100 inmates in the facility, sought an independent and thorough investigation into the matter.

He also urged the service to sanction erring officers accordingly.

According to him, the inmates, their families, and other credible sources have repeatedly alleged that the controller in charge has used his position to facilitate a systematic extortion of inmates through his aides (names withheld).

“These acts reportedly include, but are not limited to, demands for unlawful payments in exchange for access to basic rights and privileges such as medical attention, movement within the facility, humane treatment and other services that inmates are legally entitled to without inducement.”

Dakum alleged that these acts are carried out with the knowledge, consent or tacit approval of the officer, thereby creating an environment of fear, exploitation and injustice within the facility,

He said such conducts, constitute serious violation of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, the Public Service Rules and the constitutional rights of inmates, as well as undermines public confidence in the correctional system, safety of inmates, officers and the administration of justice as a whole.

“The situation is creating serious agitations among the inmates and unless you act fast, the situation may degenerate into chaos and the safety of the officers and inmates will be in danger.”

The lawyer, therefore, demanded that “an independent and thorough investigation be instituted immediately into the allegations of extortion, abuse of office, and misconduct against the officers by subjecting their bank accounts to forensic investigations.

“That the officers be redeployed or transferred to a non-sensitive post pending the conclusion of investigations, in order to preserve the integrity of the process and ensure the safety of my clients.

“That appropriate disciplinary and legal actions be taken against the erring officers.”

The lawyer said he was compelled to write the petition in the overriding public interest and the need to protect the rights and dignity of persons in custody.

His words: “I trust in your office’s commitment to upholding the highest standards of professionalism within the Nigerian Correctional Service.

“However, in the unlikely event that No immediate action is taken, I shall not hesitate to petition other relevant law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies for proper investigation.

“I did not attach evidence of transfer of funds to the officers in issue in the interest of safety of my clients some of whom are still in their custody.”

According to him, I shall present the evidence at your request. (NAN)

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