Nigerian investigative journalist, Fisayo Soyombo, can now heave a sigh of respite as the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Ja’afaru Ahmed, has said it has no plan to arrest him.
Soyombo did a thorough professional work when he carried out an undercover investigation of the state of the Nigerian prison system, thus exposing the rot within.
Among other problems, Soyomb’s work exposed drug abuse, sodomy, bribery, pimping and cash and carry operations bugging down the prison system.
As a result, there were reports that the authorities were out o arrest him.
But Ahmed refuted this in a statement, caring that he would rather fight those perpetuating the rot.
The statement reads: “The attention of the Nigerian Correctional Service has been drawn to allegations of drug abuse, sodomy, bribery, pimping and cash and carry operations in Ikoyi Custodial Centre, Lagos.
“In view of the gravity of the allegations, the Controller General, Ja’afaru Ahmed has set up a high powered panel to immediately commence full investigations into the matter in order to establish the authenticity of the report, identify and bring the culprits to book if found guilty of the allegations.
“The CG who gave the directive in his office in Abuja today stated that the Service is willing to work with the general public as well as relevant stakeholders in the justice sector to actualize the policy objectives of transforming the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) into a modern reformatory institution that operates in line with best international practices.
“Investigative journalists are partners, who seek the development of the nation, and called for more of such findings aimed at reforming the institution for better service delivery,” he said.
“He therefore called for more constructive engagement with the media and the general public with a view to strengthening the implementation of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, 2019.”
