The Federal Government has taken decisive action against misconduct within the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), dismissing 15 officers and demoting 59 others.
The move followed a thorough review of 224 disciplinary cases by the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) under the Ministry of Interior.
This was disclosed in a statement signed on Tuesday by the Deputy Controller of Corrections and Public Relations Officer, Umar Abubakar.
According to the statement, the cases were presented to the Board by the Disciplinary and General Purpose Committee (BDGPC) following extensive investigations and due process.
“Following a thorough review, the Board approved various disciplinary measures in line with its commitment to enforcing discipline and upholding the integrity of the Service,” the statement said.
In addition to the dismissals and demotions, 42 officers received written warning letters as corrective measures, while 8 personnel were compulsorily retired from service.
One officer had their rank reversed and was directed to refund all earnings received while wrongly holding the rank.
The Board also noted that it exonerated 16 personnel found not guilty of the allegations levelled against them.
It added that seven officers remained suspended pending further investigation into their involvement in an ongoing case.
“In one case, an officer was suspended from duty and recommended for handover to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for prosecution due to the gravity of the offence,” the statement added.
The CDCFIB, led by Minister of Interior Dr. Olubunmi Ojo, reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining high ethical and professional standards across all cadres.
The Controller General of Corrections, Sylvester Nwacuhe, assured the public that all disciplinary matters would be handled with fairness and in strict adherence to established procedures.
