Kelvin Ikechukwu, a recently suspended Deputy Controller of Corrections (DCC) at the Kuje Custodial Centre in Abuja, extorted money from the imprisoned Abdulrasheed Maina, former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), EQ can report.

On November 8, 2021, the Federal High Court in Abuja convicted Maina on a 12-count money laundering charge related to a N2.1 billion scam, sentencing him to eight years in prison but counting from 2019.

But Kuje Prison insiders have told EQ that Ikechukwu would regularly compel Maina to pay bribes; when Maina refused, Ikechukwu sent him to cells with inmates who had communicable diseases, such as tuberculosis.

“To keep Maina from such exposure in prison, his son would send money ranging from N100,000 to N400,000 to Ikechukwu’s personal account,” said the source. “When the matter got to the interior minister, Olubunmi Ojo, he took instant action.”

EQ saw evidence of two of such transactions between Maina’s son and the DCC; one of them was N200,000.

When the federal government suspended four prison officials on September 26 — two in relation to corruption activities bordering on Idris Okuneye’s time in jail, one for accompanying a convict out of a prison in Ebonyi State, and Ikechukwu for collecting money on behalf of an inmate in Kuje — the government did not give names of the inmates.

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This inmate was Maina, and his son was the one sending money on his behalf.

FG’s September 26 statement

Meanwhile, a panel investigating ‘Alleged Corruption and Other Violations Against the Nigerian Correctional Service’ told the Ministry of Interior on Monday that it was true Maina’s son made payments to Ikechukwu’s account.

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Representing the panel, Uju Agomoh, the executive director and founder of Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA), said Ikechukwu defended himself by claiming the money was for Maina’s health and welfare needs.

Although this deviates from the true account of events, the panel dubbed the defence unethical.

“Ikechukwu acted unethically and brought himself and the Nigerian Correctional Service to great disrepute by requesting and receiving money into his personal account from Abdulrasheed Maina’s son,” Agomoh said.

“Also, the panel is of the view that even if the transfers were made with Abdulrasheed Maina’s approval, this is still a violation as DCC Kelvin Iloafonsi Ikechukwu’s conduct was not consistent with institutional regulations.”
The post EXPOSED: Kuje Prison’s DCC Kelvin Ikechukwu Used Threats of Disease Exposure To Extort Abdulrasheed Maina appeared first on Foundation For Investigative Journalism.