Why My Suspension Is a Social Media Suspension – NCoS Officer Michael Anugwa Defies Bribery Allegations

Michael Anugwa denies suspension claims linked to Bobrisky’s bribery scandal, calling it a “social media suspension.” Despite an official announcement from the Ministry of Interior, Anugwa insists he wasn’t formally notified of any disciplinary action.

The Deputy Controller of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Michael Anugwa, has come under public scrutiny following his involvement in a bribery scandal linked to popular crossdresser Bobrisky. Widely reported to have been suspended by the service, he has now come forward to deny any such action, despite an official announcement by the Ministry of Interior.

Anugwa, who oversees the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kirikiri, Lagos, where Bobrisky served a jail term earlier this year, was accused of accepting a bribe of N15 million from the social media personality to facilitate his stay in a private apartment near the correctional facility. The revelations came to light after social media critic VeryDarkMan leaked an audio recording of Bobrisky detailing how the bribe was arranged.

Further controversy erupted when Bobrisky also claimed that singer Falz, through his father, human rights lawyer Femi Falana, allegedly offered to secure a presidential pardon for N10 million. The leaked audio caused a wave of public outrage, leading to a formal investigation.

On Friday, September 29, 2024, the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the suspension of Michael Anugwa alongside Sikiru Adekunle, the Deputy Controller of the Maximum-Security Custodial Centre, during a press briefing in Abuja. The suspensions were part of an effort to address the allegations of misconduct involving high-ranking correctional officers.

Despite these developments, Anugwa has refused to acknowledge the suspension, claiming that he was never formally served with a suspension letter. Addressing the House of Representatives Committee investigating the bribery claims on September 30, 2024, he dismissed the news of his suspension as mere rumors spread via social media. “I wasn’t served a letter,” he said, maintaining that no official action had been taken against him.

However, sources within the Nigerian Correctional Service reveal that the decision to suspend Anugwa was reached during a meeting of the board overseeing prison officials and other paramilitary agencies in Nigeria. The board had reportedly issued suspension directives for Anugwa and others involved in the scandal to preserve the integrity of the service while investigations continued.

Several prison officials who spoke to us on the condition of anonymity expressed dissatisfaction with Anugwa’s refusal to comply with the suspension order. “His defiance undermines the authority of the board and raises questions about accountability within the service,” one officer noted.

This is not the first time high-ranking officials within the NCoS have faced allegations of corruption and misconduct, sparking renewed calls for greater transparency and reforms within Nigeria’s correctional institutions.