The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) Bayelsa State Command has dismissed recent reports claiming that former First Lady Patience Jonathan was involved in the illegal detention of 15 of her former domestic staff at the Okaka Custodial Centre. The command labeled these claims as false and part of an attempt to damage the reputation of the Service.
The allegations, which emerged recently, suggested that the domestic workers had been in custody since 2019 over charges of stealing valuables—including seven gold bangles, jewelry, five Samsung air conditioners, two sets of upholstery chairs, and six Samsung flat-screen televisions, all reportedly valued at N200 million. The workers were also said to be facing 18 charges, including conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to commit felony, and burglary.
In a statement issued on Sunday, April 6, Isari Gbosi Tombara, spokesperson for the custodial center, rejected the claims as “unfounded” and stated they were aimed at tarnishing the Service’s image. Tombara also addressed rumors of a private meeting between the former First Lady and senior NCoS officers in Bayelsa, clarifying that no such meeting had taken place.
“The inmates have been treated fairly and humanely while in custody,” the statement read. “Their fundamental human rights have been respected.”
Tombara confirmed that the detainees had appeared in court on March 10 and 11, and again on April 3, 2025, with the case now adjourned to April 17, 2025. He emphasized that all individuals held at the custodial center were legally committed. “No one can be admitted into any custodial center in Nigeria without a valid court remand warrant. Therefore, their detention is not illegal, as all were brought in with proper legal documentation,” he explained.
The command reassured the public that the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Okaka remains one of the most peaceful in the country and urged people to disregard the reports, as they were intended to create unnecessary chaos.
The NCoS also reaffirmed its commitment, under the leadership of Acting Controller General of Corrections Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, to ensure the safe, humane custody of all lawfully detained individuals and to support their reformation, rehabilitation, and reintegration into society.
