The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have been summoned for the ongoing public hearing on alleged corruption and other abuses against the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS,) for their role in the overcrowding of custodial facilities.

The committee, which is investigating alleged corruption and abuse of power within the NCoS, heard that both agencies contribute to custodial centres’ congestion.

Its Secretary, Dr Uju Agomoh, explained that the NPF faced accusations of detaining individuals beyond the constitutional limit without trial, arresting suspects without sufficient evidence, and holding individuals without proper investigation.

Concerning the police, Agomoh said: “Section 43 of the Nigerian Correctional Service (Act) was also brought to the attention, as it speaks to the notion of restorative justice applicable at the pre-trial stage, and if the police are open to collaborate with the Nigerian Correctional Service in relation to this, we can reflect on the recommendation of the panel.”

She noted: “There is a need for increased partnership between the NDLEA and the Correctional Service in terms of ensuring that issues about treatment and rehabilitation of those who have drug issues and problems in correctional services are also being addressed.”

The panel mentioned to the NDLEA that as it relates to the detainees in the correctional service, it has the second highest scope, only surpassed by the police, and the committee requested from the anti-narcotics agency all lists that include places of detention and the detainees.

Responding, a representative of the NPF, Joshua Pandegh, stated that measures were being implemented to ensure that every police station has an assigned lawyer to assist with prosecutions.

The panel, however, requested a comprehensive list of police detention centres and detainees nationwide, emphasising the need for improved documentation and transparency.

Speaking for the NDLEA, Deputy Director of Prosecution and Legal Service, Obiageri Iwuchukwu, revealed that the agency was proposing plea bargaining as a potential solution to congestion in the country’s custodial facilities, and restated commitment to providing the panel with information about their detention centres.

Earlier, the panel chair, Dr Magdalene Ajani, pressed for clarification on who manages transfers and requested reports on allegations of fake certificates within the service, which were part of complaints brought before the committee.