A convicted armed robber serving time at Kirikiri Maximum Security Custodial Centre was caught trying to process a passport and visa at a Nigeria Immigration Service office in Lagos.
The inmate, Haruna Ayo, was moved from the prison to the passport office in FESTAC Town on Wednesday, May 19, 2025, under suspicious circumstances. Ayo is serving a 21-year sentence for armed robbery and is due for release in October 2025.
According to prison sources, Ayo was supposed to be doing menial work at the home of a prison official when a colleague, claiming to act on orders from a senior officer, took him to the passport office instead.
But things took a turn when the prison escort became restless while waiting at the immigration office and said, “I need to take him back to the cell.”
Immigration officials grew suspicious and detained both the inmate and the officer. The matter was quickly reported to the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) headquarters in Alagbon, Lagos.
Two officers, including one identified as Femi, have been suspended.
“I think the real culprits are not being punished. It’s a system and many people are involved,” a source inside the prison said.
Another source said Ayo had long been using medical excuses to leave prison and secretly process his travel documents.
“He claimed to have a health issue and used hospital visits as cover to apply for a passport and visa. He even got three medical reports saying he was fit,” she said.
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The scandal has caused uproar in the prison. “How does a prisoner get to apply for a passport? Was he planning to escape? It’s a big mess,” another insider said.
This is not the first time the Nigerian Correctional Service has faced accusations of corruption. In 2024, prison officers were accused of collecting N35 million to give popular cross-dresser Bobrisky special treatment in prison. That case also led to the suspension of top officers.
In another 2024 case, officers at Afikpo Custodial Centre in Ebonyi State reportedly smuggled an inmate out of jail to visit his girlfriend.
Reacting to the current incident, the Correctional Service spokesperson, Abubakar Umar, confirmed the suspension of one officer.
He said, “The staff member suspected to have committed the act has been suspended and investigation is ongoing. Anyone found guilty will be removed. They are not worthy of the uniform.”
Legal experts have condemned the incident and called for strict punishment for those involved.
Lawyer Tolu Babaleye said, “A correctional facility is not a hotel. Inmates should not leave for personal reasons. This undermines justice.”
Human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong added, “Taking inmates out for personal errands or sexual engagements is illegal. The Correctional Service must prevent this from happening again.”
Senior lawyer Dr. Monday Ubani (SAN) also described the case as “a clear failure of discipline. If a criminal escapes during such illegal outings, the justice system is weakened. This must stop,” he said.