A recently released detainee from the Kuje Correctional Facility has come forward with serious allegations against the facility’s officer in charge, Mr. Kevin, accusing him of embezzling funds meant for inmates’ welfare.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity due to fear of reprisal, the ex-detainee detailed a series of corrupt practices that have severely impacted the well-being of inmates.
According to him, Kevin has drastically reduced the portion of food provided to inmates, allegedly splitting the profits with contractors.
This reduction has forced many inmates to resort to begging from VIP inmates within the facility for survival. “Mr. Kevin makes millions by extorting money from either the new incoming ‘Big’ VIPs inmates or existing VIPs,” the ex-detainee claimed.
The allegations extended beyond food provisions, as he also accused Kevin of failing to provide the minimum four hours of electricity per day that is supposed to be allocated to the facility.
“All we hear is that he has to settle the big men at the headquarters, but we later found out that Kevin was only enriching himself,” he said.
He further alleged that Kevin has been manipulating the electricity budget, resulting in only two hours of power being provided on five out of seven days each week, instead of the allocated four hours.
Moreover, the ex-detainee suggested that Mr. Kevin may have been involved in corrupt practices with the immediate past Principal Staff Officer (PSO) to secure his position. 
”Rumours have it that he had to be settling the immediate past Principal Staff Officer (PSO) to maintain his seat. However, that was also found through our investigation to be crap and most inmates know this.
“Now that the man they call PSO has retired, we hope that whoever will be the new PSO will not be part of such a criminal scheme of cutting funds for electricity and food.
“On the day of my departure, I bleed for the people I left behind because the officer in charge has coerced so many innocent victims and collected money for his personal use,” he said.
The former detainee described a dire situation within the facility, where basic necessities like drinking water have become a luxury due to the lack of electricity to pump water from the boreholes.
“The journalists can interview people that have recently left the place. Drinking water became a luxury instead of necessity because there must be electricity to pump water from the boreholes and electricity appropriated by the government is stolen,” he lamented.
He also recounted a meeting where Kevin allegedly explained the diversion of electricity funds, blaming bureaucratic processes while pocketing significant amounts himself.
The anonymous highlighted that the National Assembly allocated funds for 24 hours of electricity in its budgetary provision, yet inmates receive far less.
“Mr Kevin will not recharge NEPA or buy diesel to start the generator so as to pump water. The last time he called the meeting of the elders of the custodial centre association while I was still with them.
“He said that the office of the Comptroller General takes 12 hours (which translates into cost of diesel for 12 hour) and he told people that before it gets to him, the cost of light will be 6 hours and he also cuts down his own 2 hours and the remnant is the 4 hours which the Custodial center has been accustomed to, over time.
“To add insult to injury, he gives only 2 hours of light instead of the 4 hours, in 5 out of the 7 days of the week, then eats the remaining. We know that the National Assembly allocates a provision of 24 hours light in its budgetary provision and this man steals it,” he narrated.
The former detainee added that he has other serious matters to say to the public about the accused but the security agencies can verify his statement to be facts.
He also added that no inmate is ever allowed to complain to any authority, else he is transferred to a remote facility in a village, where he will be tortured as has always been the case.
He therefore called on the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to audit the use of food and electricity funds at Kuje Correctional Facility.
“A lot of our comrades died for lack of care at kuje. The only medicine in that facility is paracetamol only. You have to look for money to send a warder to buy your medicine. The officer in charge of the clinic does not have a say on anything.
“I want to use this opportunity to thank some of the VIPs for their magnanimity and fatherly care. I want the ICPC to audit the issue of food and electricity funds in Kuje so that the vibrant Minister and Comptroller General who have shown capacity can take action to remedy the situation,” he urged.
The allegations, if proven true, paint a grim picture of corruption and neglect at Kuje Correctional Facility, underscoring the urgent need for accountability and reform in Nigeria’s correctional system.
