NCoS denies claims of illegal detention of Jonathan’s 15 domestic staff at Okaka centre

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) in Bayelsa State has rejected claims circulating on social media regarding the illegal detention of 15 domestic staff members of former President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan, at the Okaka Medium Security Custodial Centre.

In a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the Bayelsa State Command, ASC I G.T. Isari, the NCoS called the allegations false and misleading.

The reports suggested that the staff had been detained without trial since 2019 for alleged theft and claimed that there had been a secret meeting between Dame Patience Jonathan and senior correctional officials in the state.

“These reports are entirely baseless and aim to damage the reputation of the Nigerian Correctional Service,” the statement said.

The NCoS clarified that the 15 individuals were lawfully remanded in custody by the High Court 1 of Bayelsa State, and they have been attending their trial sessions.

They were present in court on March 10, 11, and April 3, 2025, with the next hearing scheduled for April 17, 2025.

The statement further stressed that the inmates have been treated humanely and their rights respected while in custody.

It also emphasized that no person can be admitted into any custodial facility in Nigeria without a valid court-issued remand warrant, ensuring that all 15 individuals’ detention followed due legal process.

The NCoS reiterated that the Okaka Medium Security Custodial Centre remains one of the most peaceful correctional facilities in the country, urging the public to dismiss the unfounded rumors meant to create unnecessary discord.

Concluding, the NCoS assured the public that under the leadership of Acting Controller General of Corrections, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, the service remains dedicated to the lawful, humane, and safe custody of inmates, alongside their reformation and reintegration into society.