Scandal: Robbery Inmate Caught Processing Passport, Visa
The Nigerian Correctional Service has commenced an internal investigation following the discovery that a robbery convict serving a 21-year sentence was taken from the Kirikiri Maximum Security Custodial Centre to a passport office in Lagos to allegedly process travel documents.
It was gathered that the convict, Haruna Ayo, who was sentenced to life imprisonment for armed robbery before the term was commuted, was taken on Wednesday, May 19, 2025, to the Nigeria Immigration Service passport office at FESTAC Town under questionable circumstances.
Sources told PUNCH that the inmate had earlier been listed among five convicts selected to do menial jobs at the residence of the officer in charge of the custodial centre, but was then diverted from that duty.
It was further learnt that Ayo, accompanied by a warder, was presented at the passport office by an officer who claimed to be acting under superior instructions.
However, the move drew suspicion when the warder became agitated and attempted to leave abruptly with the inmate.
Immigration officials detained both the inmate and the escorting officer and subsequently alerted superiors at the Lagos headquarters of the Correctional Service.
Insiders at the centre said the incident has sparked serious tension, leading to the suspension of at least two officers.
“The real masterminds may still be untouched. This isn’t the action of one or two officers. It’s a symptom of a deeper rot,” a senior source told PUNCH under condition of anonymity.
Further revelations indicate that Ayo may have been using a bogus medical excuse to leave the facility regularly while working to secure a passport and visa.
“He claimed he had medical issues that required external hospital visits, but evidence now shows those visits were used to further his travel plans,” another official disclosed.
Hospital staff are also under scrutiny for their alleged complicity in the fraud.
Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the National Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Abubakar Umar, confirmed the incident, stating that the officer implicated in the act has been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.
“The Comptroller-General has zero tolerance for indiscipline and any officer involved in illegal activity will be dealt with decisively,” Umar said.
Legal experts and human rights advocates have since condemned the development.
Lawyer and rights activist Inibehe Effiong said it was unacceptable for inmates to be taken out of custody for any purpose outside of a court order.
“The essence of incarceration is lost if prisoners are allowed to roam or seek travel papers,” he said.
Similarly, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr Monday Ubani, said the episode was a reflection of a failing correctional system.
“This is not just embarrassing, it is dangerous. The government must act swiftly to cleanse the system of such impunity,” he added.
Sodiq Lawal is a passionate and dedicated journalist with a knack for uncovering captivating stories in the bustling metropolis of Osun State and Nigeria at large. He has a versatile reporting style, covering a wide range of topics, from politics , campus, and social issues to arts and culture, seeking impact in all facets of the society.
