The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has removed the Officer-in-Charge of the Ibara Medium Custodial Centre in Abeokuta, Ogun State, and two other senior officers following a security breach involving a death row inmate who allegedly went live on TikTok from custody.
The inmate, identified as Elijah Oyebode, was convicted by an Osun State High Court in 2019 and sentenced to death by hanging for the murder of Rofiat Adebisi, a final-year student of Osun State University.
Oyebode reportedly gave different accounts of the incident during his trial before later denying any involvement in the killing.
However, the court convicted him after considering medical evidence and other materials presented during the proceedings.
Despite being held on death row, Oyebode allegedly gained access to a mobile phone and used it to maintain an active presence on TikTok.
One of the accounts linked to him reportedly reached Level 20 gifting status, allowing the account to receive monetary gifts during livestreams.
He was also reportedly connected to another TikTok account allegedly created to impersonate a well-known content creator and activist.
The NCoS confirmed the development in a statement issued on Thursday by its Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Corrections, JN Osuji.
According to the service, preliminary investigations showed that the inmate was in illegal possession of a prohibited mobile phone, which he allegedly used to access social media platforms while in custody.
The device has since been recovered by officials and kept as evidence as investigations continue.
The correctional service also disclosed that Oyebode had been moved to another custodial facility and placed under tighter security arrangements pending the completion of the investigation.
As part of the response to the breach, the Officer-in-Charge of the Ibara Medium Custodial Centre and two other principal officers were removed from their positions.
The NCoS said the officers would remain out of their positions while the investigation determines the circumstances that allowed the inmate to obtain and use the prohibited device inside the facility.
