Civil rights activist, Mr. Agba Jalingo, has alleged that some officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service sell cell spaces to wealthy inmates for as much as N300,000.

Jalingo, who made the allegation during a two-day Investigative and Accountability Journalism Masterclass organised by the Agba Jalingo Foundation in Calabar, said the act was part of the widespread corruption plaguing the nation’s correctional centres.

“I am saying emphatically that some prison officials across the country sell cell spaces to richer inmates,” he said. “Some charge N250,000, N300,000 or more. I know this because I spent time there and saw how it works.”

The journalist and human rights advocate, who was once detained at the Afokang Federal Correctional Centre in Calabar, described the experience as an eye-opener that exposed the depth of systemic corruption within the prison system.

According to him, many inmates are unjustly incarcerated or have long demonstrated good conduct but remain behind bars because they cannot afford legal representation or bribes.

He noted that his recent appeal to Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State to show mercy to such inmates was borne out of his personal encounters with them while in detention.

“While I was in Afokang, I took down the names of several inmates who were either wrongly imprisoned or serving sentences for very minor offences. I promised to fight for them when I regained freedom,” Jalingo recalled.

He expressed delight that Governor Otu heeded his appeal by granting amnesty to 54 inmates of the Afokang facility, describing the gesture as an act of genuine compassion.

“Before my birthday, I wrote to Governor Otu, asking him to extend mercy to deserving inmates. I must say he surprised me positively by acting on that appeal and releasing 54 of them,” Jalingo said.

The activist urged authorities of the Nigerian Correctional Service to investigate and curb corrupt practices within their ranks to ensure fairness and dignity for all inmates, regardless of social or financial status.

Prison officials sell cell spaces for N300,000 to rich inmates – Agba Jalingo alleges