Prisons Dismisses One Controller, Retires Three Over Misconduct
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has dismissed four personnel, including a senior officer at the Controller of Corrections level, to maintain high standards of discipline and professionalism within the Service.
Service Spokesman ACC Abubakar Umar announced that the NCoS had reviewed various cases of unprofessional conduct, wrongdoing, improper behaviour, and serious misconduct among its personnel. As a result, three staff members, including a Controller of Corrections, were dismissed.
The misconduct included gross negligence of duty, absence without leave, trafficking illicit items, general inefficiency, and falsification of results, among other offences.
In a statement, the federal agency said:
“In a letter issued by the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB), a total of 20 personnel were discharged and acquitted of the various offences they were accused of, while one officer who was previously suspended was reinstated after the review exercise.
“Additionally, three personnel were compulsorily retired, six personnel had their ranks reduced, and 13 personnel received either verbal or plain warnings.
“These sanctions align with the zero tolerance for staff misconduct, a core principle of Controller General of Corrections Haliru Nababa FICMC, MFR, mni, aimed at ridding the Service of unscrupulous elements and misfits to improve professionalism and entrench discipline, ethics, and excellence among its officers and men.
“The Service has the critical mandate of keeping custody of the legally interned in a safe and humane condition, as well as reforming, rehabilitating, and reintegrating them back into society as responsible citizens. To meet these mandates, the Service ensures the removal of personnel involved in misconduct and unprofessionalism that may hinder the achievement of these important national objectives.
“The Service assures the general public of its resolve to secure all custodial and non-custodial facilities and promote true correctional practice in line with international best practices. The public is also requested to support the Nigerian Correctional Service in its efforts towards effective offender management to promote public safety and national security in general.”
