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The Nigerian Correctional Services (NCO) in Bayelsa State denied that the former First Lady’s patience Jonathan illegally detained 15 domestic staff at the Okaka Hosting Center.
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NCO spokesman Isari Gbosi Tombara refuted the allegations “unfounded” and aimed at undermining the reputation of correctional services.
The Nigerian Correctional Services (NCO) of Bayelsa State University strongly denied that former first lady Jonathan had illegally detained 15 of her former domestic employees at the Gonka Hosting Center.
The claims surfaced in some reports, claiming that workers have been detained since 2019 for stealing valuable items worth 200 million guilds and face 18 charges, including conspiracy to murder and theft.
NCO spokesman Isari Gbosi Tombara refuted the allegations as “inaction” and aimed at undermining the reputation of correctional services.
Tombara clarified that contrary to some reports, there was no closed-door meeting between Jonathan and Bayelsa’s top NCO officials.
According to Tomabara, detainees are respected during the period when humanitarianism and their fundamental rights are in custody.
“They were in court from March 10 to 11, 2025, and the last time they attended the court was Thursday, April 3, 2025, and the matter was adjourned until April 17, 2025,” he said.
Tombara stressed that there is no valid remand order from the valid court and no one can enter any detention centre in Nigeria.
Detainees are sent back to custody with valid court orders that make their detentions completely legal.
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“The headquarters noted that no one could be admitted as any detention centre in Nigeria without a valid arrest warrant from a competent jurisdiction court; on the principal notes, they are not in our detention.”
The Okaka Medium Security Hosting Centre remains one of the most peaceful custody facilities in the country, with no chaos in the facility. The NCO urges the public to ignore misleading reports.
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