Nigerian Prison Officer Suspended After Accompanying Inmate Out of Ebonyi Facility for Conjugal Visit at Girlfriend’s Bar

The Nigerian government has suspended a correctional officer, Ogbule Samuel Obinna, assigned to the Medium Security Custodial Centre (MSCC) in Afikpo, Ebonyi State, following allegations that he illegally took an inmate out of the facility to meet his girlfriend for a conjugal visit.

This suspension comes in the wake of a report detailing the incident involving inmate Ibuchi Okoro Eze, who is serving time for rape. According to the report, Ibuchi was taken out of the prison on September 14 and escorted to a bar managed by his girlfriend, where he was allowed to spend time with her.

A source within the facility disclosed that this was not an isolated incident, stating, “A rapist inmate that still has more than a year left was taken outside the prison to meet his girlfriend. This has happened multiple times, where inmates are allowed to go out illegally. Some even visit clubs and spend the night out.”

The source further explained that certain officers, particularly those from the Afikpo area who have worked at the facility for years, are involved in facilitating these unauthorized exits, often for a fee. “Warders collect money from inmates to allow them to leave the facility anytime they want,” the source said.

In Ibuchi’s case, after paying the required bribe, he allegedly insisted on being allowed to see his girlfriend privately in a room at the bar. Although some personnel opposed the request, Ibuchi contacted a superior officer, who permitted the visit with the condition that he would return to prison.

In a statement issued by the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board, signed by Ja’afaru Ahmed, the board confirmed the suspension of Ogbule Samuel Obinna. “The Board has taken the step of suspending ASC II Ogbule Samuel Obinna, who was assigned to the Medium Security Custodial Centre (MSCC) in Afikpo, Ebonyi State,” the statement read. “This decision comes in response to allegations that he accompanied a convicted inmate to a location outside of the Custodial Centre.”

Additionally, the board announced the suspension of two Deputy Controllers of Corrections, Michael Anugwa and Sikiru Adekunle, over separate allegations of bribery linked to controversial crossdresser Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky.

These suspensions follow allegations made by a blogger, Martins Otse, who claimed that certain Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officers accepted ₦15 million from Bobrisky to drop money laundering charges against him. The blogger also alleged that Bobrisky paid large sums to secure preferential treatment in prison. While Bobrisky has denied these claims, both the EFCC and the Nigerian Correctional Service have initiated investigations into the allegations.