The Special Independent Investigative panel on the alleged corruption and other violations against some senior personnel of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) across the country has commenced.
Penpushing reports that Secretary of the panel, Uju Agomoh, made this known on Tuesday, explaining that a number of cases brought before the panel involved very senior correctional officers in charge of custodial centres.
The panel scribe who chaired the session explained that the panel, in its terms of reference, was charged with conducting a thorough inquiry into specific cases as well as recommend immediate measures.
Penpushing further reports that Agomoh emphasized that this was to prevent future occurrences and improve correctional administration and services in Nigeria, pointing out that recent reports have shown instances of corruption, torture, and cruelty
“Recent reports have emerged regarding instances of corruption, torture, and cruelty, inhumane, and degrading treatment by correctional officers in Nigeria’s correctional facilities’, she said.
‘These allegations include violations of laid-down rules, abuse of authority, and mistreatment of inmates, undermining the rights and dignity of individuals within the custody of the NCoS’, Agomoh added.
Penpushing also reports that the panel scribe pointed out that the panel’s scope of work included recommendations for immediate, medium-term, and long-term actions.
The record, however, has it that the panel set up by Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, followed the widely known case of cross-dresser Idris Okunneya, popularly called Bobrisky, amid controversy over whether he served his prison term in the designated custodial centre.
Penpushing reports that the panel in same vein, will be investigating cases of corruption and extortion against the person in charge of Kuje custodial centre, Iloafonsi Ikechukwu, who was said to have intimidated, threatened, and defrauded an inmate in custody
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