The Delta State Correctional Centre has dismissed reports claiming that the suspended Commissioner for Works (Highways and Urban Roads), Comrade Reuben Izeze, has been in high spirits and continued to provide financial and other support to inmates of the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Warri, where he is currently being remanded.

The Correctional Centre described the report as untrue, insisting that no inmate or detainee, irrespective of social status, is permitted to engage in activities outside the established rules and regulations governing custodial facilities.

The spokesperson of the Delta State Correctional Centre, Allen Illoba, made the clarification in an exclusive interview with The Guardian in Asaba on Thursday.

Illoba said the correctional authorities were not aware of any instance in which Izeze had been providing assistance to inmates or paying fines and other financial obligations on behalf of prisoners at the facility.

“There is absolutely nothing like that. Obviously, nobody will be allowed to do that in any of our correctional centres. In fact, it is not in our culture to do so, no matter the social status of the person involved,” he said.

He further stated that the authorities had no record of Izeze rendering the reported assistance to inmates, describing the claim as an attempt by some individuals to create favourable publicity for the suspended commissioner.

“We are not aware Izeze is doing this or that to the inmates. That’s not true. The person is just trying to get cheap popularity for the commissioner,” Illoba said.

According to him, while Izeze may have personal intentions to support inmates in the future, such assistance had not been brought to the attention of the correctional authorities.

“Well, I don’t know what they are trying to achieve by so doing, perhaps it is what he is planning to do, but it has not come to our notice,” he added.

Illoba also clarified that, as of Thursday, no individual had come forward to pay fines or meet the financial obligations of inmates who were unable to do so.

“For now, nobody is showing concern for the welfare of inmates, or paid fines for some inmates who were unable to meet their financial obligations. This is purely the imagination of persons who may have visited him,” he stated.

The clarification followed reports suggesting that Izeze, despite being remanded at the custodial facility, had maintained a positive disposition and was allegedly using his position and resources to support other inmates.

Izeze was arraigned on Monday before a Delta State High Court sitting in Effurun over an alleged assault involving Mr. Simon Umudi, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori on Protocol.

Following the proceedings, the court ordered that Izeze be remanded at the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Warri, pending further proceedings in the case.
His associate, Simeon Aguariavwodo, was also remanded alongside him.

The development came shortly after the Delta State Government announced the indefinite suspension of Izeze as Commissioner for Works (Highways and Urban Roads) over allegations linked to the reported assault on Umudi.

The correctional authorities’ latest statement has therefore sought to draw a clear distinction between Izeze’s legal status as a remand prisoner and claims about his alleged activities within the custodial facility.

The centre maintained that all persons in its custody are subject to the same rules and that social or political status does not confer special privileges on any inmate or detainee.

As proceedings in the alleged assault case continue, Izeze and Aguariavwodo remain in custody pending further directives from the court.