LAGOS, Nigeria – A prison warder attached to the Kirikiri Custodial Centre in Lagos State, Kayode Fatombi, has been arrested by the police on allegations of aiding the escape of some prison inmates.
The inmates, three men who had been arrested for alleged robbery and kidnapping, had been arraigned before the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja.
Two of these inmates reportedly escaped under the guidance of the warder, who claimed to be taking them somewhere.
The inmates reportedly confessed to paying the warder N500,000 each to facilitate their escape.
“The warder is now at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, and is expected to be charged on Monday,” a source revealed.
The case allegedly occurred a few months back has caused a rift between the police and prison authorities.
The source explained that the correctional service was “not carried along with the process”, as the internal disciplinary procedure involving Fatombi had not been completed when the police detained him.
Moreover, the re-arrested inmates were supposed to be returned to the correctional service, from where they would be arraigned for several crimes, including escape from lawful custody.
Benjamin Hundeyin, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the incident, stating that the warder would be arraigned this week.
“I can confirm that he is in our custody and will be arraigned this week. He was arrested for aiding the escape of some inmates, two of whom have been re-arrested,” said Hundeyin.
Rotimi Oladokun, the spokesperson for the Nigeria Correctional Service, Lagos State Command, also commented on the situation, stating that an investigation was ongoing into the matter of the Kirikiri Prison escape.
He assured that any officer found culpable would be appropriately sanctioned.
