Officers of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) at the Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre, popularly known as Kuje Prison, have come under fire after being accused of pocketing ₦40,000 meant to treat a gravely ill inmate, Oyedeji Adedoyin.
According to information obtained from a whistleblower at the facility on Friday and published by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism, Adedoyin, believed to be in his late 50s or early 60s, has been battling type 3 diabetes and high blood pressure for months but has been denied essential care and medication.
“Adedoyin has been sick for a very long time and has been sleeping on the hospital bed for over three months. He has HBP and is also diabetic,” the source revealed. “He is a convict with only one year left on his sentence, but has been neglected for days now. They want him to die here.”
The insider disclosed that after officers failed to intervene, fellow inmates at Kuje prison raised ₦40,000 to send Adedoyin to the Specialist Hospital in Gwagwalada. However, officers allegedly pretended to transport him for treatment and then returned him to the prison without reaching the hospital.
The order to halt the hospital visit was allegedly given by Olatubosun Ajibogun, the FCT Comptroller of the Nigerian Correctional Service. “They pretended to take him to a specialist hospital in Gwagwalada but only took him out on the road and returned him. The money contributed for him to be treated was diverted by the officers,” the source claimed.
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The source also alleged that such practices are routine at the Kuje facility. “Inmates’ funds being diverted is nothing new to this facility. They do that every now and then.”
In another disturbing revelation, the source said that during a recent visit by Justice Hussein Baba Yussuf, the Chief Judge of the FCT, Adedoyin was deliberately hidden from sight because he had no bribe to offer. “When the FCT chief judge visited, they hid the man because he had no money to give them, so he wasn’t presented to him,” the insider said.
“The majority of inmates they were supposed to present to Justice Yussuf were not presented, but those who could pay but were not qualified were presented. That was why the chief judge did not release anyone.”
Meanwhile, other wealthy inmates referred to as “Manchi” are reportedly being cleared for hospital relocation—a contrast to Adedoyin’s situation.
The source added that prison officials have also prevented Adedoyin from contacting his family about his condition, effectively cutting him off from external help. “They have denied him access to reaching his people and cut him off completely.”
Efforts by journalists to obtain a response from NCoS officials proved abortive. Phone numbers listed on the service’s official website were called twice on Friday, but though answered, no one spoke. A follow-up message was sent, but no reply had been received as of press time.
This comes amid growing criticism of the systemic corruption and abuse plaguing Nigeria’s prison system—a pattern not isolated to Kuje. Similar reports of diverted medical funds, denial of care, and mistreatment have surfaced in prisons across the country.
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