Nigeria's Interior Minister, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has invited Fisayo Soyombo, founder of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), for a roundtable discussion on prison reforms. This follows Soyombo's undercover investigation revealing corruption in Nigerian prisons, highlighting the urgent need for systemic improvements in the country's correctional facilities.
Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, has extended an invitation to Fisayo Soyombo, the founder and editor-in-chief of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), for a roundtable discussion focused on reforms in the nation’s correctional facilities. The invitation was announced on Tunji-Ojo’s X account on October 12, 2024, highlighting Soyombo’s impactful undercover investigation into Nigeria’s criminal justice system conducted in 2019, particularly at Ikoyi prison. During this investigation, Soyombo faced severe brutality after his identity was revealed.
The minister emphasized Soyombo’s expertise as invaluable for the ongoing reforms within the Nigeria Correctional Service. He expressed eagerness to engage in a dialogue aimed at fostering positive changes in the correctional system.
The invitation follows a recent interview where Soyombo spoke candidly about the pervasive corruption in Nigerian prisons, noting that prison officials often demand bribes for inmates to receive basic services. In his tweet, Soyombo welcomed the minister's invitation, affirming his commitment to using his experiences to contribute to systemic reforms. He stated, “Our work is motivated by a passion for reforms,” and expressed readiness to cooperate with government institutions for the greater good.
This initiative represents a critical step towards addressing the longstanding issues within Nigeria’s correctional facilities, as both figures work toward ensuring accountability and enhancing the prison environment.
