Nigerian Correctional Service: 72 Minors Accused of Treason Not in Our Custody”

Correctional authorities confirm they are not detaining the 72 minors charged with treason, amidst growing public and legal interest.

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has refuted allegations that 72 minors, who are facing treason charges in a Federal High Court in Abuja, are being detained within its facilities.

In a statement released on Saturday, NCoS spokesperson ACC Abubakar Umar emphasized that the Nigerian Correctional Service Act of 2019 clearly forbids the admission of juveniles into adult correctional facilities. It grants authority to Controllers of Corrections and Superintendents overseeing these centers to refuse entry to minors.

Umar noted that the Act mandates the Service to refuse further admissions when a facility has reached full capacity.

According to the statement, “Some sections of the media are circulating misleading reports suggesting that the suspects charged with treason before Justice Obiora Egwuatu at the Federal High Court in Abuja during August 2024’s End Bad Governance protest were detained in an adult custodial center in Abuja.”

The report in question is entirely false as the Service operates according to top correctional and global standards. To clarify, under the Nigerian Correctional Service Act of 2019, Controllers of Corrections and Superintendents-in-charge are prohibited from admitting juveniles into adult facilities. Additionally, the Act requires that no more inmates be admitted if it’s clear that a facility has reached its capacity limit.

The Service would like to inform the public that the mentioned suspects were not accepted, and none of them was detained in adult custodial facilities as suggested by the report.

The Service guarantees the public that the Nigerian Correctional Service will consistently prioritize professionalism and uphold human rights, adhering to the United Nations Minimum Standard Rules for the Treatment of Juvenile Offenders.

Additionally, the general public is encouraged to disregard the report as it does not accurately reflect the situation.

The NCoS reaffirmed its dedication to upholding international standards in correctional practices and protecting the rights of juveniles.