Woman held after alleged attempt to take alcohol into Ogun custodial centre

A woman identified as Shobowale Balikis has been arrested for allegedly attempting to smuggle alcohol into the Ibara Custodial Centre in Ogun State, according to the Nigerian Correctional Service. The service’s Ogun public relations officer, Olayinka Odukoya, said in a statement that correctional officials intercepted Balikis at about 3:50pm on September 26. She was allegedly trying to take the substance into the facility for an inmate.

Odukoya said the alcohol, identified in the statement as “Ethano”, had been concealed inside a bottled-water pack and disguised as drinking water. Officials detected it during screening before it could reach the inmate population. The woman was subsequently handed over to the Nigeria Police Force for further investigation and possible prosecution.

The correctional service did not provide details of the inmate allegedly intended to receive the substance. The Controller of Corrections in Ogun, Abioye Adesina, said the incident reflected the command’s zero-tolerance position on contraband in custodial facilities. He said the service remained committed to safety, discipline and integrity within the centres.

The command said it would continue efforts to prevent contraband from entering custodial facilities and to protect the integrity of the correctional system. It also said the arrested woman would face appropriate legal proceedings following the police investigation. The incident follows another case reported by the service at the same centre.

On August 28, officials arrested Iyabo Sowunmi during screening at the entrance of the facility for allegedly attempting to take suspected illicit drugs to her son, Dare Sowunmi, who was said to be on death row. No outcome of that earlier case was provided in the supplied report. The current investigation will determine the source of the alcohol and whether further action is required.