NCoS removes three senior officers after condemned prisoner allegedly accessed social media and received gifts from inside custody

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has taken disciplinary action against senior officials at the Ibara Medium Custodial Centre in Abeokuta, Ogun State, following a startling security breach involving a death row inmate who allegedly hosted TikTok livestreams from inside prison.

At the centre of the controversy is Elijah Oyebode, a condemned prisoner sentenced to death by hanging in 2019 for the murder of Rofiat Adebisi, a final-year student of Osun State University. His case had drawn public attention during trial proceedings, where he reportedly gave conflicting accounts before ultimately denying involvement. The Osun State High Court, however, found him guilty, relying on medical evidence and other materials presented in court.

Years after his conviction, Oyebode is now at the heart of another disturbing development. Reports indicate that despite being on death row, he allegedly maintained an active presence on TikTok, where he hosted live sessions and interacted with users. One of his accounts reportedly reached Level 20 gifting status, a milestone that allows content creators to receive monetary gifts from viewers during livestreams.

Authorities also allege that Oyebode was linked to another TikTok account used to impersonate a well-known content creator and activist, further raising concerns about identity misuse and digital misconduct from within a correctional facility.

Reacting to the incident, the NCoS described it as a grave violation of custodial rules and a breach of established security protocols. In a statement issued on Thursday, the Service’s Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Corrections JN Osuji, confirmed that swift action had been taken.

According to Osuji, preliminary investigations revealed that the inmate had unlawfully gained access to a prohibited mobile phone, which he used to connect to the internet and operate social media accounts while in custody.

“The device has been recovered and secured as an exhibit for further investigation,” the statement said.

In response to the breach, the NCoS announced the immediate removal of the Officer-in-Charge of the Ibara Medium Custodial Centre, along with two other principal officers. The affected officials have been relieved of their duties pending the outcome of an ongoing investigation into how the lapse occurred.

Meanwhile, Oyebode has been transferred to another custodial facility and placed under stricter surveillance. Authorities say enhanced security measures have been implemented to prevent a recurrence.

The incident has sparked public concern over the integrity of custodial systems, particularly regarding how prohibited items such as mobile phones find their way into high-security environments. For many Nigerians, the revelation is both shocking and troubling, raising questions about oversight, accountability, and the safety of correctional institutions.

For the family of the late Rofiat Adebisi, the development may reopen painful memories, as the man convicted of her murder becomes the subject of fresh controversy—this time, not for his crime, but for what appears to be an audacious breach of prison rules in the digital age.

The NCoS has assured the public that a thorough investigation is underway and that anyone found culpable will face appropriate sanctions.