Lagos State Controller of Prisons, Tunde Ladipo, has advised families of inmates against paying prison officials when visiting people in custody.

Ladipo urged prison visitors to report to relevant authorities any official demanding money before seeing inmates.

The prison controller said the command had received several complaints from the public and warn warders to desist from the practice or face disciplinary action.

According to him, especially those that are undergoing trial, the trauma of visiting a loved one in the prison was enough for the family, now asking them to pay before seeing the prisoner is another trauma.

Ladipo said some officers that were caught in the act were immediately transferred out of the prison while awaiting appropriate sanction from the service, saying any officer caught or found collecting money would be dealt with.

He said such inducement had resulted in the smuggling of substances into the prison, saying they had cases that some families would visit and smuggle in Indian hemp and were caught in the process, they were handed over to the NDLEA.

Ladipo warned that the command would continue to do it’s best to get rid of bad eggs within the service.