A convicted armed robber serving time at the Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison in Lagos was recently caught trying to process an international passport while still in custody.
The inmate, identified as Haruna Ayo, was discovered at the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) passport office in FESTAC Town on Wednesday, May 19, under suspicious circumstances. He is currently serving a 21-year sentence for armed robbery, which was reduced from a life sentence. He is due for release in October 2025.
Reports say Ayo was among five inmates selected to carry out chores at the home of a senior prison officer. However, during the outing, another officer — allegedly acting on instructions from a superior — took Ayo to the passport office instead.
While waiting to be served at the immigration office, the officer escorting Ayo reportedly said, “I need to take him back to the cell,” which raised suspicion among NIS officials. The immigration officers immediately detained both the inmate and the officer and alerted the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) Lagos Command.
Following the report, two prison officials were suspended by the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB), chaired by the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
In a statement released on Saturday, NCoS spokesperson Umar Abubakar confirmed the incident and said the act was discovered through reforms in the automated passport processing system and strong cooperation between agencies.
“This action violates the rules and procedures of the Correctional Service,” the statement read. “Disciplinary measures have been taken, including the suspension of two correctional officers involved.”
The Controller General of Corrections, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, also said the service will not tolerate corruption, misconduct, or sabotage in any prison facility across the country.
He added that any staff found engaging in such acts would be removed from the system.