FG Sacks 23 prisons officers, suspends 11 others
About 23 prisons officers have been dismissed by The Federal Government for alleged involvement in jail-breaks at Kuje Medium Security Prisons, Abuja and Koton-Karfe Prisons, Kogi, respectively.
The Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Prisons Services Board, held an emergency meeting on August 11, 2016, which birthed the approval for the immediate dismissal of three senior prisons officers serving in Kuje prison and three other senior officers serving in Koton Karfe prison for their collusion in the escape of prisoners from the respective prisons. It said that the board approved the immediate dismissal of the prison officers over allegation of misconduct and negligence of duty “in line with the provision of the Public Service Rule 030402 (O) being an action prejudicial to the security of the State.”
The dismissal letters dated August 12 were signed by the Secretary to the Board Alhaji A A Ibrahim, according to a statement on Monday in Abuja by the Nigerian Prisons Service Public Relations Officer,Francis Enobore.
As a follow up, the Controller-General of Prisons, Ahmed Ja’afaru, also approved the dismissal of seven junior prison officers serving in Kuje prisons and 10 other junior staff serving in Koton Karfe prison, who were also incriminated in those jail breaks. The statement ordered the dismissed officers to hand over all government properties in their keep to their immediate superior.
Meanwhile, the officer in charge of Nsukka Prison DCP Okonkwo Lawrence and 10 others have been suspended following the escape of 15 inmates from the prison last week. The suspension is to give way for detailed and uninterrupted investigation into the circumstances surrounding the sad incident in order to facilitate appropriate action by the prison authorities.
Ja’afaru appreciated the collaboration of security agencies, vigilante groups and members of the public for their great support and said that all necessary measures were being put in place to guarantee security of prisons inmates.
