Nigeria Correctional Service removes Ibara prison officials after de@th row inmate goes live on TikTok

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has removed the Officer-in-Charge of the Ibara Medium Custodial Centre, Abeokuta, Ogun State, alongside two other principal officers, following the unauthorised use of a mobile phone by an inmate on de@th row who appeared in a viral TikTok live stream.

The inmate, Elijah Oyebode, was sentenced to death by hanging in 2019 after an Osun State High E Court convicted him of m#rdering Rofiat Adebisi, a final-year student of Osun State University. According to court records, Oyebode gave conflicting accounts of the crime before denying involvement during trial. The court found him guilty based on medical and other evidence. Despite being on de@th row, Oyebode allegedly maintained an active presence on TikTok. One account reportedly reached Level 20 gifting status, allowing him to receive monetary gifts during livestreams.

Investigators also linked him to another account allegedly created to impersonate TikTok creator and activist

In a statement issued on Thursday by its Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Corrections, JN Osuji, the prison service said the incident constituted a serious breach of custodial security and violated existing regulations guiding correctional operations.

According to the statement, preliminary investigations confirmed that the inmate unlawfully possessed a prohibited mobile device, which he used to access social media while in custody. The NCoS said the device had been recovered during a search operation and secured as an exhibit as part of the ongoing investigation.

It added that the inmate had been transferred to another custodial facility where he is being held under enhanced security pending the conclusion of investigations.

The Service said the Officer-in-Charge of the custodial centre, alongside two other principal officers, had been removed pending the outcome of the investigation.

“Anyone found to have facilitated, aided, condoned or failed in their responsibilities in connection with this incident will face appropriate disciplinary and administrative sanctions in accordance with extant regulations,” the statement said.