Breaking: Bayelsa NCoS Addresses Allegations Of Illegal Detention Of Patience Jonathan’s Former Aides

Breaking: Bayelsa NCoS Addresses Allegations Of Illegal Detention Of Patience Jonathan’s Former Aides

The Bayelsa State Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has dispelled allegations regarding the illegal detention of 15 former domestic staff members of ex-First Lady Patience Jonathan at the Okaka Custodial Centre. Reports had emerged asserting that these individuals have been unlawfully held since 2019, facing accusations of theft involving items valued at approximately N200 million, including seven gold bangles, five Samsung air conditioners, two sets of upholstery chairs, and six Samsung flat-screen televisions.

The allegations also included serious charges, such as conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to commit a felony, and burglary. However, the NCoS categorically denied these claims, labeling them as “unfounded” and aimed at damaging the correctional service’s reputation.

In a statement released on Sunday, Isari Gbosi Tombara, the spokesperson for the Okaka Custodial Centre, clarified that there was no truth to rumors of a private meeting between Patience Jonathan and high-ranking NCoS officials in Bayelsa. He reassured the public that the detained individuals have been treated humanely and that their fundamental rights have been upheld while in custody.

Tombara noted that the individuals in question appeared in court on March 10 and 11, 2025, with their most recent court appearance on April 3, 2025; the matter has been adjourned to April 17, 2025. He emphasized that admissions to custodial facilities in Nigeria require a valid remand warrant from a competent court, reaffirming that the detainees were legally remanded and accompanied by appropriate court orders.

“The command confirmed that any admission to a custodial center in Nigeria mandates a valid warrant issued by a court of competent jurisdiction; thus, their detention is lawful,” the statement indicated.

Additionally, Tombara asserted that the Okaka Medium Security Custodial Centre is among the most peaceful correctional facilities in the country, urging the public to dismiss these misleading reports. He concluded by mentioning the NCoS’s ongoing commitment to ensuring the safe and humane treatment of all legally detained individuals, under the leadership of Acting Controller-General Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, as the service focuses on the reform, rehabilitation, and reintegration of detainees into society.

The NCoS has called on the public to disregard any erroneous narratives and emphasized that their operations are conducted transparently, lawfully, and in alignment with the principles of justice.