The Nigerian Correctional Service has refuted claims that juvenile defendants from the current #EndBadGovernance protests had been detained in grownup custodial amenities on the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja.
Following the arraignment of 76 people in reference to the protests, Justice Obiora Egwuatu ordered that underage defendants be positioned in a borstal facility whereas adults could be remanded in normal cells till their bail situations had been met.
Nonetheless, stories quickly emerged suggesting that the Kuje facility lacked the required borstal lodging.
In an announcement on Saturday, NCoS spokesman, Umar Abubakar, clarified that these stories had been deceptive and guaranteed that the service adheres to strict requirements when managing juvenile offenders.
Abubakar emphasised that the Nigerian Correctional Service Act 2019 mandates that juveniles not be held in grownup amenities, and that facility superintendents are authorised to reject new intakes if a centre has reached capability.
He assured that, consistent with world greatest practices, not one of the juvenile defendants had been detained in grownup cells.
Abubakar urged the general public to ignore misinformation on this situation, reiterating the NCoS’s dedication to professionalism and respect for human rights.
“There are deceptive stories making the rounds in some sections of the media purporting that the suspects who had been arraigned earlier than Justice Obiora Egwuatu on the Federal Excessive Courtroom, Abuja Division, for treason, throughout the Finish Unhealthy Governance protest that held in August 2024, had been remanded in one of many grownup custodial centres in Abuja.
“The mentioned report has no iota of reality because the Service operates based mostly on greatest correctional and world practices. To set data straight, the Nigerian Correctional Service Act 2019 has empowered the Controllers of Corrections in addition to Superintendents-in-charge of Custodial Centres to not admit juveniles in amenities meant for adults. The Act additionally mandates the Service to reject extra consumption of inmates the place it’s obvious that the custodial facility in query is stuffed to capability.
“The Service needs to tell the general public that the mentioned suspects had been rejected and not one of the suspects was remanded in grownup custodial amenities as insinuated by the mentioned report,” he defined.
He additional assured that the NCoS continues to uphold the United Nations Minimal Requirements for the Therapy of Juvenile Offenders and would make sure the protected and applicable lodging of all detainees consistent with these rules.
The spokesperson added, “The Service assures the general public that the Nigerian Correctional Service would proceed to emphasise professionalism in addition to respect for human rights consistent with the United Nations Minimal Customary Guidelines for the Therapy of Juvenile offenders.
“Moreover, most of the people is enjoined to discountenance the mentioned report as it isn’t the true place of issues.”
Seventy-five younger protesters, reportedly aged 12 to fifteen, had been introduced earlier than the Federal Excessive Courtroom in Abuja by the Nigeria Police Power.
The defendants, who had been a part of the #EndBadGovernance protests, confronted 10 severe fees, together with terrorism, an alleged try to overthrow the federal government, and mutiny.
The listening to noticed a few of the minors fainting earlier than Justice Obiora Egwuatu. Following the presentation of their case, the decide granted bail to 67 out of the 76 minors, setting bail situations at ₦10 million every.
These younger protesters had been initially detained on August 3 and had remained in custody till their arraignment on Friday.