The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has defended its handling of the remand of Tracynither Nicholas Ohiri, following a confrontation with individuals described as civil society actors at a Magistrate Court in Abuja.
In a statement addressing the controversy, the Service said Ohiri was ordered remanded at the Keffi Correctional Centre on 26 February 2026 by Magistrate Court 7 in Wuse Zone 2, Federal Capital Territory, pending the perfection of her bail conditions.
According to the NCoS, correctional officers acted strictly in compliance with a duly issued warrant of commitment when they attempted to transfer the defendant from the court premises to the custodial facility in Keffi. However, the movement was reportedly disrupted by a group of individuals who allegedly blocked officers and insisted that Ohiri would not be moved.
The Service stated that, faced with escalating tension at the court complex, officers opted to place the defendant in protective custody at a nearby police station overnight to preserve order and ensure her safety.
The situation reportedly flared again the following morning when correctional personnel resumed efforts to enforce the remand order. The NCoS alleged that the same group reassembled and continued to resist the transfer.
During the standoff, Ohiri complained of ill health and was taken to a hospital for medical attention. The Correctional Service said tensions escalated at the medical facility, where a larger crowd gathered, alleging that senior officers and medical personnel deployed from its headquarters were subjected to verbal abuse and intimidation.
In a strongly worded response to claims circulating online, the Service dismissed allegations 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 signed by the presiding magistrate.
“The Nigerian Correctional Service does not have the authority to grant bail,” the statement stressed, noting that bail remains exclusively within the jurisdiction of the courts. It added that once a court orders detention pending the fulfilment of bail conditions, correctional officers are legally bound to execute that directive until the conditions are satisfied and verified.
While accusing the group involved of attempting to delay enforcement through emotional pressure, the Service said its personnel exercised restraint to avoid confrontation and prioritised the safety of the defendant, officers and bystanders.
Observers say the incident reflects ongoing tensions between civil activism and procedural enforcement in high-profile cases. The Correctional Service, however, warned that obstructing officers from carrying out lawful court orders could amount to interference with custody and undermine institutional security.
Authorities indicated that the immediate crisis has been contained, though possible legal implications arising from the alleged obstruction remain unclear.
Follow us on:
