The Nigerian Correctional Service has started an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the movement of a robbery convict, Haruna Ayo, to a passport office in Lagos for the processing of travel documents.
The convict, Ayo, was convicted of armed robbery and sentenced to life imprisonment, which was later reduced to 21 years on appeal and further reviewed after some consideration. He was due for release on October 11, 2025.
This incident happened on Wednesday, May 19, 2025, when warders from the Kirikiri Maximum Security Custodial Centre, Apapa, moved the inmate to the Nigeria Immigration Service passport office at FESTAC Town under suspicious circumstances.
The inmate was among five convicts selected to do menial jobs at the residence of the officer in charge of the custodial center on the day of the incident. During the outing, an orderly, who claimed to be acting on the instructions of another superior officer, told the supervising officer to release Ayo to him, whence he was subsequently transported to the passport office.
While waiting to be attended to, the warder escorting him became impatient and said, “I need to take him back to the cell”. This raised suspicion among immigration officers, who then detained both the inmate and the warder and alerted their superiors.
The NIS escalated the matter to the Lagos headquarters of the NCS, Alagbon. Two officers were reportedly suspended over the incident, one was identified as Femi.
The convict had been using medical pretence, claiming he had a health problem, warranting him to visit a hospital, during the process, he found a loophole to process the passport and visa.
The whole thing was said to have started last year, and the convict seemed to be progressing with the passport and visa applications until the correctional service started probing the Bobrisky case. The convict’s case was not known at that time. He was among those enjoying special treatment in the maximum prison.
After the suspension of top officers, things changed as new officers took over. Security was tightened, and people who enjoyed certain privileges had those things withdrawn.
“This particular convict then started protesting and threatening blackmail. His conduct led to investigations. A search was conducted and it was discovered he had been processing the travel documents. It is suspected that the hospital where he claimed to be receiving treatment was also involved in the compromise. The prison authorities discovered that three medical evaluations had already cleared him that he was medically fit. Whereas he was using that to do all manner of things.”
The NSC confirmed the incident, adding that the investigation was ongoing. The Service National Public Relations Officer, Abubakar Umar, also confirmed the suspension of an officer.