Correctional Service dismiss report of Indian hemp in facility - Nexus News

The Enugu State Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service, yesterday, refuted a claim that its officers were illegally moving Indian hemp and alcohol into its custodial centers.

In a press release by its Public Relations Officer, DSC Monday Chukwuemeka, in Enugu, the Command depicted the report, which it noted was published by an online medium, as false and spiteful.

“The attention of the Command has been drawn to a report alleging that the officer-in-charge of Enugu Custodial Center heads a cartel smuggling Indian hemp, alcohol and mobile phones to inmates. The report is false, malicious and unpatriotic.

“The Command under the leadership of Mr. Nicholas Obiako, the Controller of Corrections in Enugu State, stimulated a sting operation to entrench discipline among staff. It was conducted in conjunction with the officer-in-charge of custodial centers/stations in the Command, including the Enugu Custodial Center.

“The operation led to the arrest of a member of staff, Osmond Ifeoma, at the Enugu Custodial Center as he tried to smuggle some substances suspected to be Indian hemp into the center.

“He was tried and handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for prosecution as the command has zero tolerance for any act of trafficking,” Chukwuemeka said.

He added that the cooked up lies by the online publication that three trucks of banned items were taken into the center on March 14, 2022, explained the mischief of the author.

“The said date, March 14, 2022, was a Monday when all vehicular movements and activities are usually grounded in the Southeast. How then did the truck transit on that date? It was a combined team of the Controller and that of the Officer-in-Charge of Enugu Custodial Center that arrested the suspect, Ifeoma.

“The accusation by Ifeoma that it was the officer-in-charge of the custodial center that leads the cartel smuggling Indian hemp and alcohol to inmates is an unsellable defense,” Chukwuemeka added.

He implored the public to disregard the publication as the handiwork of mischief makers, noting that the Command had been working to ensure that culprits were identified and made to face the law.