Scandal: Convicted inmate caught processing passport, visa in Lagos
The Nigerian Correctional Service has started investigation into the circumstances surrounding the movement of a robbery convict, Haruna Ayo, to a passport office in Lagos for processing of travel documents.
Saturday PUNCH exclusively gathered that the 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.
According to a credible source, Ayo was convicted for armed robbery and sentenced to life imprisonment, which was later reduced to 21 years on appeal and further reviewed downward after some consideration. He was due for release on October 11, 2025.
Our correspondent learnt that the inmate was among five convicts selected to do a menial job at the residence of the officer in charge of the custodial centre on the day of the incident.
During the outing, an orderly, who claimed to be acting on the instruction of another superior officer, told the supervising officer to release Ayo to him.
Our source disclosed that the inmate was subsequently transported to the passport office.
“However, 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 source added.
Saturday PUNCH learnt that the NIS escalated the matter to the Lagos headquarters of the NCS, Alagbon.
Two officers were reportedly suspended over the incident.
The source identified one of the affected officers as one Femi.
“I think the real culprits are not being punished. It’s a system and many people are involved,” the source said.
Another source explained that the convict had been using medical pretences to process the passport and visa.
She said, “What happened was that this particular inmate, a convict, claimed he had a health problem, which necessitated his visit to a hospital in that neighbourhood. However, during the process, he started processing his passport and visa documents by proxy.
The whole thing started last year and he seemed to be progressing with the passport and visa applications until the correctional service started probing the Bobrisky case (Idris Okuneye). The convict’s case was not known that time. Apparently, he was among those enjoying special treatments 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.”
Another source said the matter was causing a serious storm at the custodial centre.
“The question remains, how will a convict be processing passport and visa? Was he planning to escape? It’s a big mess,” the source said.
This latest revelation adds to the long list of corrupt practices in the country’s correctional service.
In the past, some warders were accused of extorting money from inmates, selling donated items and giving VIP treatments in exchange for bribes.
(Punch)
