The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has refuted claims that juvenile defendants from the #EndBadGovernance protests were detained in adult facilities at Abuja’s Kuje Custodial Centre.
These young protesters, aged between 12 and 15, appeared before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday, brought by the Nigeria Police Force.
They faced ten serious charges, including terrorism and alleged attempts to overthrow the government.
During the hearing, some of the minors reportedly fainted in court before Justice Obiora Egwuatu. After presenting the case, Justice Egwuatu granted bail to 67 out of the 76 minors, setting bail at ₦10 million each.
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The judge directed that juvenile defendants be held in borstal facilities, while adults were to be remanded in regular cells until their bail conditions were met.
Reports had surfaced alleging that the Kuje facility did not have borstal accommodations, sparking concerns over the minors’ detention conditions.
However, in a statement on Saturday, NCoS spokesman Umar Abubakar clarified that these claims were inaccurate.
He emphasized that the NCoS strictly follows regulations under the Nigerian Correctional Service Act 2019, which prohibits housing juveniles in adult facilities.
He also noted that facility superintendents are empowered to refuse new intakes if a facility is at capacity.
Assuring the public, Abubakar stated that none of the juvenile defendants were placed in adult cells and urged the public to disregard any misinformation on the matter.
He reiterated the NCoS’s commitment to professionalism and respect for human rights.
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“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 remains committed to upholding the United Nations Minimum Standards for the Treatment of Juvenile Offenders and will ensure the safe and appropriate accommodation of all detainees in alignment with these principles.
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