Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, has extended an invitation to prominent investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo for a roundtable discussion on reforms of the nation’s correctional facilities.
The invitation, announced via Tunji-Ojo’s X account on Saturday, follows Soyombo’s groundbreaking 2019 undercover investigation into Nigeria’s criminal justice system, which exposed severe corruption and mistreatment within the Ikoyi Prison.
Soyombo’s investigation revealed shocking details, including how prison warders sold mobile phones, alcohol, and hard drugs to inmates. His reports also highlighted the secret lives of prisoners, who continued to have access to illegal substances and contraband within the prison walls.
In response to the invitation, Soyombo expressed his willingness to participate in the reform efforts, posting on his X handle on Sunday: “I welcome the invitation of the Interior Minister to a roundtable where I can call upon my undercover knowledge of prison operations for the benefit of systemic reforms.”
He affirmed his commitment to engaging with state institutions, adding, “We won’t speak the truth and start running when we are called for interrogation or consultation.”
Soyombo emphasized that his work is driven by a desire for societal improvement, noting that his undercover efforts, including being detained and brutalized, were motivated by a passion for justice.
He recently spent eight hours in police custody in August 2023 after honoring an invitation from the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC), underscoring his readiness to cooperate with state authorities.
The minister’s invitation comes as part of broader government efforts to overhaul the country’s correctional system, addressing long-standing issues highlighted by Soyombo’s investigation.
