The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has refuted a report by Sahara Reporters claiming that an officer who allegedly took an inmate out of custody for conjugal intimacy was pardoned, while the whistleblower was dismissed.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the Service Public Relations Officer, Abubakar Umar, the NCoS described the report as “misleading and malicious,” aimed at tarnishing the Service’s image.
Umar clarified that the officer in question, ASC I Efe Onakpoya (Service No. 57790), was actually dismissed following a thorough disciplinary investigation.
He was found guilty of “acts unbecoming of a public officer,” particularly for taking unauthorised photographs of an inmate, Ibuchi Eze, at the Medium Security Custodial Centre (MSCC), Afikpo, and uploading them online.
He added that Onakpoya also made false allegations against the Service, including the claim that an inmate was taken out for a conjugal visit.
Umar stressed that the NCoS remained committed to discipline, integrity, and professionalism, and would not condone any actions that undermine its core values.
He urged the public to disregard the report and remain vigilant against attempts to discredit the Service, reaffirming NCoS’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
