Woman arrested over smuggling of alcohol to inmate in Ogun prison

The arrested woman, Shobowale Balikis.

A woman identified as Shobowale Balikis has been arrested for allegedly attempting to smuggle alcohol concealed in a bottled water pack into the Ibara Custodial Centre in Ogun State.

The Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Ogun State Command, Olayinka Odukoya, disclosed this in a statement released on Sunday.

Odukoya stated that the vigilant correctional officials intercepted Balikis at about 3:50 pm on Saturday while she was allegedly attempting to take the substance into the custodial centre for an inmate.

He stated, “At about 15:50 hours today, 26th September 2026, vigilant officials at the Ibara Custodial Centre intercepted a woman, identified as Shobowale Balikis, in an attempt to smuggle contraband into the facility.

“She was caught concealing Ethano inside a bottled water pack, disguising it as drinking water intended for an inmate.”

Odukoya noted that the substance was detected before it could reach the inmates, adding that Balikis had been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force for further investigation and possible prosecution.

He continued, “The swift action of correctional officers ensured the illicit substance was detected before it could reach the inmate population.

“Shobowale Balikis has since been handed over to the Nigerian Police for further investigation, with appropriate legal proceedings expected to follow.”

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Reacting, the Command’s Controller of Corrections, Abioye Adesina, according to the statement, said the command maintained a zero-tolerance stance on the smuggling of contraband into custodial centres.

Adesina noted that the incident demonstrated the commitment of the service to maintaining safety, discipline and integrity within custodial facilities.

He added that the service would continue to protect inmates, preserve order and uphold the rule of law.

The command also assured the public that it would continue efforts to prevent the infiltration of contraband into custodial facilities and safeguard the integrity of the correctional system.

PUNCH Online reported a similar incident on August 31, when the Service arrested a woman, Mrs Iyabo Sowunmi, for allegedly attempting to smuggle suspected illicit drugs into the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Ibara, Abeokuta, for her son, Dare Sowunmi, who is said to be on death row at the facility.

Odukoya said Sowunmi was arrested at about 1:33 pm on Friday, August 28, 2026, during a routine screening at the facility’s main entrance.