NCoS denies release of man who confessed to murdering FUNAAB student

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has described as false the claim that an awaiting trial person, Ayomide Adeleye, has been released and no more in prison.

In a statement on Monday, the NCoS Public Relations Officer, Deputy Controller of Corrections, Umar Abubakar, said the 23-year-old with with Custody Number: S-1995/24 is currently in the Maximum Security Custodial Centre, Kirikiri, Lagos.

He recalled that Adeleye was remanded on September 26, 2024, for offence of kidnapping and murder by Magistrate Court 13A, Ogba, Lagos, and was produced to same court on December 16, 2024.

Abubakar said on the said date Adeleye was produced in court, the presiding magistrate ordered that he remain in the custody of the NCoS pending advice by the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP).

“The Service wishes to categorically state that the said inmate is still in the custody of the MSCC Kirikiri, Lagos, as ordered by the court, against the information being peddled by the mischievous report,” he said.

He further clarified that there was an inmate with a similar name that was admitted at the MSCC on March 6, 2024, upon a warrant issued by Magisters Court 15A, Ogba, for the offence of theft.

The NCoS spokesman said the inmate was discharged on April 14, 2024, by the order of the court.

He said the reports alleging a release of Adeleye was targeted at misleading the general public and bringing the image of the NCoS to disrepute.

“The Service wishes to request the general public to discountenance the said report as it is written by arm-chair reporters who could have done due diligence by confirming their information before publication,” he said.

Adeleye, a 200 Level Philosophy student of the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ogun State, confessed in early September to killing Christianah Idowu, a 300 Level student of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB).