Controller denies child prostitution, sodomy allegations at Maiduguri facility

The Borno State Command of the Nigeria Correctional Service, Service, has denied allegations of child prostitution and sodomy  in the Maiduguri Maximum Security Correctional facility.

The allegation was first reported in March and repeated about a week ago by an online newspaper.

The Borno State Controller of the Service, Manu Dumbulwa Gimba, told Kanem Trust yesterday in Maiduguri that investigations over the allegation was zeroed down to a high-profile prisoner (name withheld) who causes trouble for officials “who don’t dance to his tune” anywhere he is kept in custody.

“Immediately the story went viral, the former Controller, Muazu Danmusa, set up a committee to investigate the allegations and this was followed by the Controller-General of Prisons and the National Human Rights Commission, who also sent their separate committees to  investigate. They all found the story as untrue.  He said former governor of the state Kashim Shettima also sent another committee, headed by the Attorney-General and,Commissioner for Justice, Barr Kaka Shehu Lawan,but it was not allowed access to the prison because it did not obtain a clearance from the headquarters.

He said immediately on assumption as the Controller he  also ordered  a fresh investigation  and transferred two members of staff of the facility to ensure unfettered investigation.

“All these committees found out that the allegations were unfounded and completely false.

“This prisoner was first in Lagos, then he was transferred to Abuja, and later  to Maiduguri and he has been here for about two years now,” the Controller said..

Gimba said it was discovered that the prisoner in question has been causing problem to officials wherever he was taken to adding that he had caused the sacking of many staff. He said it was difficult for prisoners or officials to gain access to the female section of any facility as they are adequately secured to prevent intrusion.

“The female wing of every prison is far removed from other sections, and it is located behind all. Even the Controller-General would have to be escorted there by at least three staff and any staff caught perpetrating any unbecoming act with a female prisoner is summarily dismissed from service.’’

He said prisoners caught committing sodomy are chained, painted with ash and displayed before a large crowd of their fellow prisoners, with some of them beating improvised drums and scolding them. He said such prisoners would later be thrown into a one-man cell.