The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) has dismissed one of its officers, Assistant Superintendent of Corrections (ASC) Efe Onakpoya, for misconduct after he took unauthorized photographs of an inmate and shared them online. The incident occurred within the barracks of the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Afikpo, Ebonyi State.
In a statement issued by NCoS spokesperson Abubakar Umar, the Service also addressed recent media reports alleging that an inmate had been released for a conjugal visit and that a whistleblower was punished while the officer involved was allegedly pardoned by the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Board.
Umar dismissed those reports as false and misleading, stating that they were intended to tarnish the image of the Service. He clarified that Onakpoya was subjected to a disciplinary process and found guilty of misconduct for photographing an inmate—identified as Ibuchi Okoro Eze—and posting the images on the internet without authorization.
In addition to the unauthorized photos, Onakpoya was also accused of making unfounded and defamatory claims, including the allegation that an inmate was released from custody for a romantic engagement.
Reaffirming its commitment to discipline, integrity, and professionalism, the Nigeria Correctional Service emphasized that it would not tolerate actions that compromise its standards or public trust.
