A prison warder, Kayode Fatombi assigned to the Kirikiri Custodial Centre in Lagos State, has been arrested.

He’s accused of aiding the escape of several inmates from the prison.

Initially, three individuals were detained by the police on charges of robbery and kidnapping.

They were later presented before the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja. Following this, two of the inmates managed to flee from custody, reportedly with Fatombi’s assistance.

Following their escape, the police were able to locate and re-arrest the inmates.

During their interrogation, the detainees revealed that they had paid Fatombi a sum of N500,000 each in order to facilitate their escape.

A source that confirmed the development to Punch said, “The warder is now at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, and is expected to be charged on Monday.

“He was attached to the Kirikiri custodial prison as a warder, and he took the inmates facing trial at the High Court for kidnapping and armed robbery out of the prison and allowed them to escape. He claimed that they ran away while he was leading them out. During the investigation, it was gathered that he purposely allowed them to escape, so he was arrested and kept at the SCID, Yaba.

“The suspects were tracked and caught and they confessed that they gave him money to allow them to escape. The inmates confessed that they paid him N500,000 each.”

The warder, who has reportedly been dismissed from his position, is currently being held at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba.

He is expected to face charges on Monday.

This situation has sparked tensions between the police and prison authorities.

A source disclosed that the prison service that spoke with Punch was unhappy about being left out of the process, especially as Fatombi’s internal disciplinary proceedings were still ongoing at the time of his arrest by the police.

The source explained that the re-arrested inmates were also supposed to be returned to the service, from where they would be arraigned for several crimes, including escape from lawful custody.

The source said, “Even the warder has been in a police cell for about two months now. I gathered that the Lagos Controller has tried to talk to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police for possible inter-agency collaboration, but it has not worked.”

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin confirmed the incident and informed that Fatombi will be taken to court this week.

He stated, “I can confirm that he is in our custody and will be arraigned this week. He was arrested for aiding the escape of some inmates, two of whom have been re-arrested.”

The spokesperson for the Nigeria Correctional Service, Lagos State Command, Rotimi Oladokun also affirmed that the matter is under investigation.

He stated that any officer found guilty would face the necessary consequences.