by Willy Okonji-
Lagos, Nigeria – An inmate serving a 21‑year sentence for armed robbery at Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison was apprehended this week in Lagos State for attempting to secure travel documents illicitly. The convict, identified only as “Ayo,” had been convicted in November 2023 and remanded to Kirikiri, but was discovered processing a Nigerian passport and Schengen visa application at a private travel agency in Victoria Island.
According to eyewitnesses, Ayo presented a forged letter purportedly from the Nigerian Correctional Service, alongside falsified guarantor statements, in an effort to meet the requirements for the passport. The travel agency alerted the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), leading to his immediate arrest. NIS officials confirmed the documents were fraudulent and that no official consent had been granted for any inmate to apply for travel documents while serving a custodial sentence.
Ayo’s actions have prompted an internal investigation by the Nigerian Correctional Service into possible collusion with prison staff. The Controller of Prisons for Lagos State has ordered a review of document‑handling procedures and stricter verification protocols for any requests emanating from within the facility. Ayo remains in NIS custody pending charges of forgery, impersonation, and illegal possession of official documents, in addition to his ongoing armed robbery conviction.
