The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has denied allegations that juvenile defendants from the recent #EndBadGovernance protests were detained in adult custodial facilities at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja.
Following the arraignment of 76 individuals connected to the protests, Justice Obiora Egwuatu had ordered that underage defendants be placed in a borstal facility while adults would be remanded in regular cells until their bail conditions were met.
Reports surfaced soon after, suggesting that the Kuje facility lacked borstal accommodations, sparking concerns over the treatment of the juvenile detainees. However, in a statement issued on Saturday, NCoS spokesperson Umar Abubakar clarified that these reports were inaccurate, assuring that the service adheres strictly to standards for handling juvenile offenders.
Abubakar emphasized that under the Nigerian Correctional Service Act 2019, juveniles are not permitted in adult facilities, and superintendents of these centers have the authority to reject new intakes if a facility reaches full capacity. He assured the public that none of the juvenile defendants were detained in adult cells, in accordance with global best practices.
“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 statement read. “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.”
Abubakar reiterated that the NCoS is committed to upholding the United Nations Minimum Standards for the Treatment of Juvenile Offenders and is dedicated to ensuring the safe and proper accommodation of all detainees in accordance with these principles. He urged the public to disregard misinformation on this issue and affirmed the NCoS’s commitment to professionalism and respect for human rights.
The young defendants, reportedly aged between 12 and 15, were brought before the Federal High Court in Abuja by the Nigeria Police Force. Facing serious charges, including terrorism, an alleged attempt to overthrow the government, and mutiny, the hearing took an emotional toll on the minors, with some reportedly fainting in court.
Justice Egwuatu granted bail to 67 out of the 76 minors, setting their bail conditions at ₦10 million each. These young protesters had been initially detained on August 3 and remained in custody until their arraignment on Friday.
