Iyabo Sowunmi was detained by the Nigerian Correctional Service’s Ogun State Command for allegedly trying to bring suspected illegal substances into the Medium Security Custodial Center in Ibara, Abeokuta, for her son Dare Sowunmi, who is reportedly on death row there.
Olayinka Odukoya, the Nigerian Correctional Service’s Ogun State Command spokeswoman, revealed this in a statement on Monday.
According to Odukoya, Sowunmi was taken into custody during a standard screening at the facility’s main entrance on Friday, August 28, 2026, at approximately 1:33 pm.
He claimed that the material, which was purportedly meant for the prisoner, was hidden in a sachet of a popular beverage powder and was thought to be “Colos,” a psychoactive synthetic narcotic.
“At around 1:33 p.m. on Friday, August 28, 2026, routine screening procedures at the facility’s main entry point led to the detection of suspicious substances, believed to be the psychoactive synthetic drug commonly known as ‘Colos,’ concealed within a sachet of a popular beverage powder,” he explained.
“The suspect was trying to deliver the box to Dare Sowunmi, a death row inmate. Officers detained Mrs. Sowunmi right away after the interception. She has been turned over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for thorough investigation and prosecution in compliance with inter-agency operational procedures.
In response to the event, Ogun State Command’s Controller of Corrections, Abioye Adesina, praised the security staff for their attention to detail and compliance with security procedures.
“Our custodial facilities exist to ensure public safety, reformation, and rehabilitation,” stated Adesina. We uphold a strict zero-tolerance policy for any criminal activity intended to jeopardize security, including drug trafficking.
“We will take prompt legal action against any attempt to bring contraband into our facilities.”
The leadership warned that anyone attempting to compromise security would be subject to the full force of the law and encouraged the public to respect the integrity of custodial institutions.
