The Federal Government has directed a comprehensive investigation into the allegations of bribery and corruption within the Nigerian Correctional Service, NCoS.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, gave the order in a statement issued on Wednesday by his media aide, Babatunde Alao.
The development followed reports that a crossdresser, Idris Okuneye, aka Bobrisky, who was sentenced to prison earlier this year, did not serve his jail term inside the correctional centre.
In a viral audio leaked by a popular social critic, Martins Otse, known as VeryDarkMan or VDM, Bobrisky’s alleged voice was heard telling a friend that he spent his jail term in an apartment near the correctional facility.
According to the leaked audio, upon his sentencing, an undisclosed godfather called a top senior officer in the prison service, who allegedly rented an apartment for the crossdresser.
Reacting, the minister said that any form of indiscipline, unprofessionalism and corruption in the service will attract severe consequences.
“The Ministry will not tolerate any compromise on its core values of integrity, transparency, and accountability. We will leave no stone unturned in rooting out corruption and ensuring that those found culpable face the full wrath of the law,” the statement said.
The minister has directed a special investigative team headed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, to probe the allegation and submit a comprehensive report.
He reassured the public that the investigation would be rigorous, transparent, and impartial, and that appropriate disciplinary actions will be taken against any personnel found guilty.
