Abuja: The Federal Government has given the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) a four-week deadline to address cases of abuse, illegal detention of minors, and other lapses in juvenile custodial centres across the country. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, issued the directive during the third public hearing of the Independent Investigative Panel on Alleged Corruption and Other Violations Against the NCoS.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Ajani, who chaired the panel, expressed concern over the mingling of juveniles with adult inmates, poor welfare conditions, and systemic administrative failures in the correctional system. She emphasized the need for a status report on all borstal centres and questioned the legal basis for admitting minors without due process, noting that some had never been taken to court.
Ajani ordered the immediate removal of all adults from facilities designated for juveniles, stressing that the panel's goal was to reform the system and protect inmate dignity. She raised questions about the origin of warrants for minors, suggesting that security agencies might be issuing them without court involvement.
Concerns were also raised regarding mentally ill inmates held without treatment, despite nearby psychiatric institutions. Ajani criticized the practice of chaining inmates without proper assessment and treatment and urged the NCoS to take ownership of the vacancy declaration process.
Ajani addressed the issue of children born to incarcerated women, questioning the adequacy of budgetary provisions for their care. She instructed the NCoS to ensure appropriate budget allocation and to report back to the ministry within four weeks with evidence of compliance, emphasizing the urgency of resolving these issues.
The permanent secretary reiterated that the panel's mission was not to indict individuals but to initiate genuine reform. Dr. Uju Agomoh, Panel Secretary, highlighted the panel's broad mandate, including the investigation of corruption, torture, and systemic lapses within correctional institutions.
Agomoh outlined key objectives, such as identifying systemic issues contributing to rights violations and recommending policy reforms. She referenced specific cases of alleged misconduct, including the intimidation and defrauding of an inmate at the Kuje Correctional Centre and the verification of whether Idris Okuneye, aka Bobrisky, had served his sentence.
The panel's methodology includes analysis of human rights documents, field visits to custodial centres, and engagement with various stakeholders. Agomoh confirmed full access to correctional facilities and active participation from the NCoS in the hearings.