The Nigerian Correctional Service has dismissed the leader of the Ibara Medium Custodial Centre in Abeokuta, Ogun State, along with two other senior staff members. This action follows a significant security lapse where a prisoner on death row was discovered hosting live broadcasts on TikTok.
The inmate, Elijah Oyebode, received a death sentence in 2019. An Osun State High Court convicted him for the murder of Rofiat Adebisi, an undergraduate student at Osun State University. Although Oyebode initially provided contradictory statements and later denied the charges, the court relied on medical findings and evidence to reach a guilty verdict.
Investigations indicate that Oyebode managed an active social media presence while incarcerated. One of his accounts reached a high gifting status on TikTok, allowing him to collect financial donations during his streams. He was also accused of running a separate account to impersonate a well-known activist.
Chief Superintendent of Corrections JN Osuji, the service spokesperson, confirmed the breach on Thursday. He characterized the incident as a severe violation of prison policy. Osuji noted that officials confiscated an unauthorized mobile phone used by the inmate. Oyebode has since been relocated to a different facility under stricter security as the formal inquiry into how he obtained the device continues.
