Nigerian Correctional Service has described the report that it released one Ayomide Adeleye, an inmate standing trial for kidnapping and murder as misleading and totally untrue.
The Service, in a statement made available to The Point on Monday by its Public Relations Officer, Umar Abubakar, noted that the 23-year-old accused person is still in its custody.
According to him, Adeleye, with Custody Number: S-1995/24 was remanded at the Maximum Security Custodial Centre Kirikiri, Lagos, for offence of kidnapping and murder on the 26th September 2024 by Magistrate Court 13A, Ogba, Lagos State, and was produced to same court on 16 December, 2024.
“On the said date he was produced in court, the presiding magistrate ordered that he remain in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service pending advice by the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP).
“The Service wishes to categorically state that the said inmate is still in the custody of the MSCC Kirikiri, Lagos, as ordered by the court, against the information being peddled by the mischievous report,” Abubakar maintained.
He further disclosed that another inmate of the Medium Correctional Centre that bears same name with Ayomide Adeleye was discharged by the order of the court.
Setting the records straight, Abubakar, a Deputy Controller of Corrections, explained that “There was an inmate that has a similar name that was admitted at the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kirikiri, Lagos State on 6 March, 2024, upon a warrant issued by Magistrate Court 15A Ogba, Lagos state, for the offence of theft.
“The inmate was discharged on 4th April, 2024 by the order of the court on the mentioned date.”
Aside from misleading the general public, Abubakar said the report by some section of the media that Adeleye is no longer in Correctional custody was targeted at bringing the image of the Service to disrepute.
He therefore advised media practitioners to confirm their information from appropriate quarters before going to press, to avoid dishing out falsehood to the public.
“The Service wishes to request the general public to discountenance the said report as it is written by arm-chair reporters who could have done due diligence by confirming their information before publication,” he said.
According to the PRO, the Acting Controller General of Corrections, Sylvester Nwakuche assured that the Service is working tirelessly to ensure safe and humane custody of all inmates while ensuring they are properly reformed, rehabilitated and resettled back to their various communities.
