The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has removed the Officer-in-Charge of the Ibara Medium Custodial Centre in Abeokuta, Ogun State, along with two other principal officers, following the unauthorised use of a mobile phone by a death row inmate who appeared in a viral TikTok livestream.
The disciplinary action was announced after preliminary investigations confirmed that the inmate, Elijah Oyebode, illegally possessed a prohibited mobile device and used it to access social media while in custody, in violation of correctional regulations.
Oyebode was sentenced to death by hanging in 2019 after an Osun State High Court convicted him of the murder of Rofiat Adebisi, a final-year student of Osun State University.
According to court records, the convict gave conflicting accounts of the incident before later denying involvement during his trial. However, the court found him guilty based on medical evidence and other testimonies presented during the proceedings.
Despite being on death row, investigators alleged that Oyebode maintained an active presence on TikTok. One of the accounts linked to him reportedly attained Level 20 gifting status, enabling him to receive monetary gifts from viewers during livestreams.
Investigators also linked him to another TikTok account allegedly created to impersonate a popular content creator and activist.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Chief Superintendent of Corrections J.N. Osuji, described the incident as a serious breach of custodial security and a violation of the Service’s operational guidelines.
The statement disclosed that the mobile phone used by the inmate had been recovered during a search operation and has been secured as an exhibit as investigations continue.
The Service also confirmed that Oyebode has been transferred to another custodial facility, where he is being held under enhanced security pending the outcome of the investigation.
As part of immediate administrative measures, the Officer-in-Charge of the Ibara Medium Custodial Centre and two other principal officers have been relieved of their duties pending the conclusion of the probe.
The NCoS warned that any official found to have facilitated, aided, condoned or failed in their responsibilities in connection with the incident would face appropriate disciplinary and administrative sanctions.
“Anyone found to have facilitated, aided, condoned or failed in their responsibilities in connection with this incident will face appropriate disciplinary and administrative sanctions in accordance with extant regulations,” the statement said.
The Correctional Service reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining discipline, strengthening custodial security, and ensuring that correctional facilities operate in line with established laws and procedures.
