The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has explained its position following a confrontation with a group of activists over the remand of a female defendant in Abuja, insisting its officers acted strictly in compliance with a valid court order.
The dispute involves Tracynither Nicholas Ohiri, who was ordered remanded at the Keffi Correctional Centre on February 26, 2026, by Magistrate Court 7 in Wuse Zone 2, Federal Capital Territory, pending the perfection of her bail conditions.
According to the Service, correctional officers moved to transfer the defendant from the court premises to the custodial facility in Keffi based on a duly issued Warrant of Commitment. However, the process was reportedly disrupted when a group of individuals, some identifying as civil society actors, blocked the officers and resisted the transfer.
The NCoS stated that, in view of the tension that developed at the court premises, officers temporarily placed the defendant in protective custody at a nearby police station to preserve order and ensure her safety.
The situation reportedly escalated the following morning when correctional personnel resumed efforts to enforce the remand order. The Service alleged that the same group reconvened and continued to obstruct the transfer. During the standoff, Ohiri was said to have complained of ill health and was subsequently taken to a hospital for medical attention.
At the medical facility, the Service claimed that a larger crowd gathered and that senior officers, alongside medical personnel deployed from its headquarters, were subjected to verbal hostility while attempting to discharge their statutory responsibilities.
In a statement addressing allegations circulating online, the NCoS dismissed claims that remand documents were forged or manipulated. It maintained that both the Warrant of Commitment to Prison on Remand and the Order to Reproduce Prisoner were lawfully issued and duly signed by the presiding magistrate, describing contrary assertions as attempts to erode public trust in the justice system.
The Service emphasised that it lacks the authority to grant bail, noting that bail decisions rest exclusively with the courts. Where detention is ordered pending the fulfilment of bail conditions, correctional authorities are legally obligated to enforce such directives until compliance is confirmed.
While accusing the group of employing delay tactics and emotional pressure, the NCoS maintained that its personnel exercised restraint to avoid confrontation, stressing that the safety of the defendant, officers and members of the public remained its primary concern.
Observers say the incident underscores recurring tensions between civic advocacy and procedural law, particularly in cases that attract public attention. The Correctional Service, however, warned that obstructing officers from executing lawful court orders amounts to interference with custody and poses risks to institutional security and the rule of law.
Authorities indicated that the immediate situation has been brought under control, though possible legal consequences arising from the alleged obstruction remain under consideration.
