The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has confirmed that Ayomide Adeleye, an inmate awaiting trial, is securely detained at the Kirikiri Maximum Security Custodial Centre in Lagos. This statement refutes recent media reports suggesting the inmate’s whereabouts were unknown.
In a statement issued on Monday, Abubakar Umar, Deputy Controller of Corrections and Public Relations Officer for the NCoS, clarified the situation. “A misleading report in some sections of the media, claiming that Ayomide Adeleye ‘is not in prison,’ has come to our attention,” Umar stated.
Adeleye, 23, with Custody Number: S-1995/24, was remanded at the Maximum Security Custodial Centre, Kirikiri, Lagos, on September 26, 2024, by Magistrate Court 13A, Ogba, Lagos State, for charges of kidnapping and murder. He was presented in court again on December 16, 2024, where the magistrate ordered his continued detention pending advice from the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP).
The NCoS emphasized that Adeleye remains in custody at the Kirikiri Maximum Security Custodial Centre as directed by the court, contrary to the claims made in the media. The statement also clarified a case of mistaken identity involving another inmate with a similar name, who was discharged earlier in the year.
The Service urged the media to verify information from appropriate sources to prevent the spread of misinformation. Umar noted that the erroneous report appeared aimed at discrediting the NCoS, urging the public to disregard such falsehoods.
Acting Controller General of Corrections, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, assured the public of the Service’s dedication to the safe and humane custody of all inmates, alongside efforts to reform, rehabilitate, and reintegrate them into society.
