Martin Scicluna, the government's former adviser on defence matters, has been asked by the government to head an inquiry into the escape of five illegal immigrants from detention on Saturday and the death of one of them after his recapture yesterday.

Mr Scicluna has been asked by Home Affairs Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici to examine the operations of the Detention Service with regard to the escapes, the search conducted by the Service and the death of the migrant.

He was asked to establish whether there was negligence, non-observance of regulations or abuse related to the incident.

He was also asked to submit whatever recommendations he feels necessary.

The Nigerian migrants escaped from Safe detention centre, where they were awaiting repatriation. They had been in detention for several months.

Five are still at large.