The Nigerian Correctional Service has removed the Officer-in-Charge of the Ibara Medium Custodial Centre in Abeokuta, Ogun State, alongside two other senior officers, following a security breach involving a death row inmate.
The inmate, identified as Elijah Oyebode, was allegedly found with a prohibited mobile phone which he used to operate TikTok accounts and conduct livestreams from custody, raising fresh questions about security in correctional facilities.
Oyebode was sentenced to death by hanging in 2019 after an Osun State High Court found him guilty of murdering Rofiat Adebisi, a final-year student of Osun State University.
During the trial, Oyebode reportedly gave conflicting accounts of what happened before eventually denying involvement. The court, however, convicted him after considering medical evidence and other materials presented by the prosecution.
The latest controversy centres on claims that Oyebode maintained an active presence on TikTok while on death row.
Reports indicate that one of the accounts linked to him allegedly reached Level 20 gifting status, a feature that allows creators to receive monetary gifts from viewers during livestreams. He was also reportedly linked to another account allegedly created to impersonate a popular content creator and activist.
The development has raised concerns about how inmates gain access to prohibited communication devices and the effectiveness of security checks within custodial facilities.
The NCoS confirmed the disciplinary action in a statement on Thursday by its Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Corrections JN Osuji.
Osuji described the incident as a serious breach of custodial regulations and prison security protocols.
According to him, preliminary investigations established that Oyebode was in possession of a prohibited mobile phone, which he allegedly used to access social media platforms while in custody.
“The device has been recovered and secured as an exhibit for further investigation,” the statement said.
The correctional service said the recovered phone would form part of the ongoing investigation into how the inmate obtained the device and used it from inside the facility.
Following the discovery, Oyebode has reportedly been moved to another custodial centre where he is being held under enhanced security measures.
The case has reopened concerns about the ability of correctional facilities to prevent inmates from accessing mobile phones and other prohibited devices.
Beyond the TikTok livestreams, the incident raises questions about how an inmate awaiting execution could allegedly access a smartphone, connect to the internet, interact with the public and potentially receive financial gifts without detection.
The NCoS said its immediate priority is to determine how the breach occurred and whether other individuals were involved.
The service added that the investigation would establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and determine responsibility.
Authorities have not disclosed how long Oyebode allegedly had access to the device or whether anyone outside the custodial centre assisted him.
