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Enioluwa Adeniyi
Guest
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has dismissed allegations that juvenile defendants from the recent #EndBadGovernance protests were held in adult detention facilities at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja.
Following the arraignment of 76 protest participants, Justice Obiora Egwuatu had ordered that minors be remanded in a borstal facility, while adults were to be placed in standard cells pending bail.
Yet, reports surfaced suggesting that the Kuje facility did not have borstal accommodations, leading to claims that minors were kept in adult custody.
In response, NCoS spokesman Umar Abubakar released a statement on Saturday refuting the allegations.
Abubakar clarified that under the Nigerian Correctional Service Act of 2019, juvenile offenders are legally prohibited from being housed in adult facilities, adding that centre superintendents have the authority to decline new arrivals if the facility is at capacity.
“There are misleading reports making the rounds in some sections of the media purporting that the suspects who were arraigned before Justice Obiora Egwuatu at the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, for treason, during the End Bad Governance protest that held in August 2024, were remanded in one of the adult custodial centres in Abuja.
“The said report has no iota of truth as the Service operates based on best correctional and global practices. To set records straight, the Nigerian Correctional Service Act 2019 has empowered the Controllers of Corrections as well as Superintendents-in-charge of Custodial Centres not to admit juveniles in facilities meant for adults. The Act also mandates the Service to reject more intake of inmates where it is apparent that the custodial facility in question is filled to capacity.
“The Service wishes to inform the public that the said suspects were rejected and none of the suspects was remanded in adult custodial facilities as insinuated by the said report,” he explained.
He further assured that the NCoS continues to uphold the United Nations Minimum Standards for the Treatment of Juvenile Offenders and would ensure the safe and appropriate accommodation of all detainees in line with these principles.
The spokesperson added, “The Service assures the public that the Nigerian Correctional Service would continue to emphasize professionalism as well as respect for human rights in line with the United Nations Minimum Standard Rules for the Treatment of Juvenile offenders.
“Furthermore, the general public is enjoined to discountenance the said report as it is not the true position of things.”
Seventy-five young protesters, reportedly aged 12 to 15, were brought before the Federal High Court in Abuja by the Nigeria Police Force.
The defendants, who were part of the #EndBadGovernance protests, faced 10 serious charges, including terrorism, an alleged attempt to overthrow the government, and mutiny.
The hearing saw some of the minors fainting before Justice Obiora Egwuatu. Following the presentation of their case, the judge granted bail to 67 out of the 76 minors, setting bail conditions at ₦10 million each.
These young protesters were initially detained on August 3 and remained in custody until their arraignment on Friday.
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