The lawyer, who said he was a solicitor to over 100 inmates in the facility, sought an independent and thorough investigation into the matter, while also urging the service to sanction erring officers accordingly.
According to him, the inmates, their families and others had repeatedly alleged that the controller has used his position to facilitate a systematic extortion of inmates through other officers.
“These acts include, but are not limited to, demands for unlawful payments in exchange for access to basic rights and privileges such as medical attention, movement within the facility, humane treatment and other services that inmates are legally entitled to without inducement,” the petition alleged.
Dakum alleged that these acts were carried out with the knowledge, consent or tacit approval of the controller, thereby creating an environment of fear, exploitation and injustice within the facility.
He said such conducts constituted a violation of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, the Public Service Rules and the constitutional rights of inmates, as well as undermines public confidence in the correctional system, safety of inmates, officers and the administration of justice as a whole.
“The situation is creating serious agitations among the inmates and unless you act fast, it may degenerate into chaos and the safety of the officers and inmates will be in danger,” the petition added.
The lawyer, therefore, demanded that “an independent and thorough investigation be instituted immediately into the allegations of extortion, abuse of office, and misconduct against the officers by subjecting their bank accounts to forensic investigations.
“That the officers be redeployed or transferred to a non-sensitive post pending the conclusion of investigations, in order to preserve the integrity of the process and ensure the safety of my clients.
“That appropriate disciplinary and legal actions be taken against the erring officers.”
The lawyer said he was compelled to write the petition in the overriding public interest and the need to protect the rights and dignity of persons in custody.
The petition added: “I trust in your office’s commitment to upholding the highest standards of professionalism within the Nigerian Correctional Service.
“However, in the unlikely event that no immediate action is taken, I shall not hesitate to petition other relevant law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies for proper investigation.
“I did not attach evidence of transfer of funds to the officers in question in the interest of safety of my clients some of whom are still in custody.”
In a swift reaction however, the Controller General said such allegations would not be swept under the carpet.
A statement by the Public Relations Officer of the correctional centre, Ms Jane Osuji, on Friday said the organisation would carry out a thorough investigation into the allegation.
“The Controller-General and the Nigerian Correctional Service, as a whole, will not take kindly to such allegations; we don’t treat them with kit gloves.
“It is something that speaks negatively to the whole essence of us achieving our mandate. So we don’t take it kindly.
“When the CG got the message, he ordered a full investigation to ascertain the veracity of that claim to ensure that such a thing, if it is true, is not condoned by the service at all,” the PRO said.
