A federal government investigative panel report states there was no evidence to indicate that Idris Okuneye (Bobrisky) lived outside the Correctional Services Center during the six months he was in prison.
The report of the panel, set up by the Minister of Home Affairs, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to investigate allegations of gross violation of standard operating procedures within the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCos), was presented on Monday in Abuja.
Presenting the report to the minister, Magdalene Ajani, chairperson of the panel and permanent secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, said it was the first phase.
He said the report contained findings about Bobrisky and allegations against some staff at the Kuje Correctional Center by Abdulrasheed Maina.
Mrs Ajani said the findings revealed that Bobrisky enjoyed several special privileges while in custody at the Medium and Maximum Security Detention Centres, Kirikiri, Lagos.
“He had equipped individual cells, a humidifier, a rough floor and many visits from his family and friends as he wished. Visits were also made to the interior of the office of the person in charge of the penitentiary center.
“He also enjoyed the privileges of feeding himself, having an inmate run errands for him, having access to a refrigerator and a television, and possibly having access to his phone,” he said.
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However, he stressed the need to further investigate whether the privileges were financially induced and based on corrupt practices by prison officials.
Ms. Ajani noted that the lifeguard's peculiarities and physical appearance likely led to the special treatment he received from prison officials.
According to her, the findings revealed that the decision to transfer Bobrisky from the Ikoyi detention center to the Medium maximum center was taken by Ben Freeman, the then controller of the NCos Lagos Command.
“However, the state comptroller has the power by law to transfer inmates within the same state.
“However, the appropriate documentation was not submitted prior to their transfers, but rather the documents were provided subsequently and were retroactive.
“This violates sections 168 and 169 of the NCoS standing order for service, and the transfer of Bobrisky as a first offender violates section 16 4 (a) (b) of the Ncos Act 2019,” he added.
The panel chairman said the committee proposed that future provisions be made for quirks like the Bobrisky case.
According to her, measures must be taken to avoid obvious discriminatory practices in relation to the socioeconomic level and other conditions of prisoners.
In the same vein, the panel report stated that it was true that a senior officer collected funds from the son of convict Abdulrasheed Maina.
According to her, the panel, while questioning the officer, found that money had been deposited into his personal account.
“The officer stated that the money deposited into his personal account was intended to take care of Maina's well-being and health.
“He acted unethically and brought himself and the service into disrepute by soliciting and receiving money from Maina’s son.
“The panel is of the opinion that even if the transfers were made with Maina's approval, they are still a violation as the officer's conduct was not consistent with institutional regulations,” he said.
The panel therefore recommended that all prison service staff should “receive new training and be people of integrity and character”.
The panel also recommended that personnel without having previously run a detention center not be deployed to run large, sensitive detention centers.
“The severe underfunding of the Nigerian prison service, the poor welfare package and the working conditions of prison officers are factors that encourage corruption and the commercialization of the provision of welfare and other services to prisoners,” the Mrs. Ajani.
In response, the minister said any officer found guilty according to the report would face disciplinary action.
“We have nothing to hide and this is about reform and making sure we build strong institutions that will outlive each of us, and the correctional service is a key institution in the security architecture.
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“We will continue with action and ensure we create a service that is not condemnatory for prisoners.
“We want to reform the service so that it is the bridge between the weak and the strong,” he said.
The minister assured that it would no longer be business as usual and added: “Renewed hope begins with us in this ministry.”
(YAYA)