Lawyer Petitions Correctional Service Controller Over Staff Compromise, Justice Perversion

An Ibadan-based lawyer, Dr Olutayo Oyewàle, has petitioned the Controller General of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NoCS) over alleged compromise by some of his staff with a female inmate to pervert the course of justice in Ilesa Custodial Centre, Osun State.

In the petition he signed, dated 9th September 2024, Oyewàle who is a counsel to Dr Olagunoye Ajibola and Mrs Daramola Oyindamola, alleged that two Defendants: Samson Adediji and Adeoti Adebisi Awanat, were arraigned by the Police on 3rd July 2024, before His Worship, Magistrate Dr Olusegun Ayilara of Court 1, Osogbo, on offences bordering on conspiracy and obtaining money amounting to N25m (Twenty Five Million Naira Only), under false pretence. They were granted bail the same day.

Counsel to the two Defendants was however unable to perfect the bail conditions and so the duo were ordered remanded in the Correctional Centre pending the fulfillment of the bail conditions granted.

Oyewàle informed the Controller General that the Magistrate then gave the matter an accelerated hearing, while almost all the prosecution witnesses had given evidence in charge No: MOS/200c/2024 between the Commissioner of Police and the two defendants.

Alleging unholy alliance between the men of the Osun State Correctional Service and the Defendants, the lawyer told the Controller General: “It will interest you to know Sir, that the Correctional Service had written letters to the learned Magistrate to release the 2nd defendant unconditionally.

“The height of it was observed on the 16th of August 2024 when the matter was meant to come up for the continuation of hearing, the 2nd defendant feigned sickness in the dock and without any court order, the 2nd Defendant was taken away in a private car by her husband to an unknown destination and was not returned to the Correctional Facility.

“The fact-finding mission of our Clients revealed that the 2nd Defendant was being kept at UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital, formerly known as LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, where it was discovered that the 2nd Defendant was kept there without any serious ailment other than the fact that she is pregnant and eager to be out of lawful custody. The 2nd Defendant was found in the company of her husband making calls while strolling around the hospital premises without the presence of any officer of the Correctional Centre.

“We are not oblivious of the fact that a defendant who needs medical attention should be accorded the same, being his right as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended). However, such a right should not be exercised at large.

“Surprisingly, the court was also kept in the dark as regards the arrangement made between the Correctional Centre and the 2nd Defendant, as the 2nd Defendant whose liberty is still under restraints has been let loose by men of the Correctional Centre, Osun Command without a valid Court order to that effect.

“On the 2nd of September, 2024, when the matter came up for hearing, the 2nd Defendant was not present in court, but a letter was written to the Magistrate from the Correctional Centre stating that the 2nd Defendant had given birth and was receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital”.

The ‘Annexure A’ letter signed by A.A.Alade, Chief Superintendent of Corrections, Medium Security Custodial Centre, Ilesa, Osun state, dated 29th August 2024 was read in the open court by the Magistrate, Dr. Olusegun Ayilara. Captioned: “NOTIFICATION OF BABY DELIVERY OF ADEOTI ADEBISI AWANAT” CHARGE NO: MOS/200c/2024, the letter read thus: “I am directed to inform you that the above-named Inmate in Ilesa Custodial Centre had been delivered of a baby on 29th August, 2024. She is currently at the Hospital receiving treatment after the Caesarian Session. This is for your information, Sir”.

The lawyer therefore told the CG that “the pertinent question comes to the mind of our clients thus: what happens if the 2nd Defendant decides to run away, who takes the blame and the responsibility? We request a discreet investigation of the activities of your men at Osun State Command and all unholy connivance be sanctioned with appropriate discipline”.

Meanwhile, Oyewale in a letter dated 9th September 2024 had demanded a retraction of an alleged false online publication in the Nation Newspapers, captioned: “Anger as pregnant banker remanded by Osun Court gives birth in Prison”, claiming that the report was replete with false claims, “misleading and aimed at dressing our clients in a borrowed robe”. His clients have demanded N750m (Seven Hundred And Fifty Million Naira) in damages for the false publication.