The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), FCT Command, says there is no disquiet in Kuje Custodial Centre over the death of an inmate.
It dismissed some online publications that there were some disturbances by the inmates of custodial centre, Kuje, as a result of the death of an inmate.
The command’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Chukwuedo Humphrey, made this known in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.
NCoS, however, confirmed the death of an inmate on August 29 after a protracted illness.
Humphrey said that the report was not true and did not reflect the peaceful atmosphere prevailing in the yard.
“When the inmate was admitted into Kuje Custodial Centre in 2019, he came with an already deteriorating health condition.
“This is what necessitated his placement on special medical observation and management by a combined team of medical personnel of the NCoS.
“This also came with occasional referrals to the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, for check-ups.
“For over three years, the Service has provided free medical services and other necessary care and support to sustain him because it is our responsibility to do so,” Humphrey said in the statement.
He said that it was unfortunate that when he went into a crisis on Saturday, Aug. 27, all efforts to resuscitate and stabilise him failed.
The NCoS spokesman said that his fellow inmates were aware of this and so there was no form of disquiet amongst them.
“It was, therefore, strange to read a report from mischief makers insinuating that the inmates were fomenting crisis over the incident,“ he said.
Humphrey said the Controller, FCT Command, Mr Ahmed Musa, had appealed to media practitioners to verify their facts before feeding the public.
“For emphasis, the health of inmates remains a top priority of the Controller General of the Correctional Service, Haliru Nababa, who had continued to maintain regular drugs supply for use of inmates,“ the statement said.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
