Officials at Afikpo Correctional Centre in Ebonyi State have allegedly taken an inmate, Ibuchi Okoro Eze, out of the prison illegally to visit his girlfriend for a conjugal meeting, SaharaReporters exclusively reported.
Ibuchi, who is serving time for rape, was reportedly escorted from the facility on Saturday, September 14, to a bar managed by his girlfriend.
A photograph showing him seated at the bar was also obtained by SaharaReporters.
“A rapist inmate who still has more than a year to serve was taken outside the prison to meet his girlfriend for a conjugal visit,” a source within the correctional facility revealed.
According to the source, this is not an isolated incident.
“This wasn’t the first time something like this happened. Inmates have been allowed out of the facility illegally, some even spending nights at clubs.”
The source alleged that local warders, particularly those from Afikpo who have long-standing ties to the area, are often involved in these secretive operations. “They collect money from inmates to allow them to leave the facility anytime they want.”
In Ibuchi’s case, after paying the officials, junior officers were forced to escort him to his girlfriend’s bar.
“When they arrived, he asked to meet her privately to have sex. One officer protested, but a senior official gave the go-ahead, warning them to remain on alert and ensure his return to the prison.”
the spokesperson for the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) could not respond to the allegations when newsmen reached out to him, as he did not respond to calls, texts, or WhatsApp messages at the time of reporting.
Corruption allegations within the NCoS are not new. In 2022, The ICIR reported that suspended police chief Abba Kyari claimed he was forced to pay for cable TV services for other inmates as protection.
Similarly, a former minister’s son allegedly paid N500,000 to secure a more comfortable prison cell.
