By Palma Ileye
Nigerian Correctional Service, NCoS, has firmly denied the allegation of illegally detaining General Umaru Muazu Mohammed, Former Group Managing Director and Executive Vice Chairman of Nigerian Army Properties Limited.
A press release signed and issued by DSC Adamu Duza, Public Relations Officer, Nigerian Correctional Service, FCT Command stated that the allegations were brought forward by a whistle blowing group demanding for the release of the Major General purporting that he was detained without a warrant.
The NCoS statement disclosed that the Command wished to state equivocally that the Service was a responsible Security Agency set up by the laws of the Federation, with the mandate of keeping the legally interned.
It stated that the Nigerian Correctional Service only admits persons legally interned by a competent court of law or a Military Court Martial and in the case of the said General, he was legally detained by a Military Court Martial, with a valid warrant.
The statement read, “The attention of the Nigerian Correctional Service, FCT Command, has been drawn to a report by a whistle blowing group demanding for the release of the former Group Managing Director and Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Army Properties Limited, Maj. Gen. Umaru Muazu Mohammed, purporting that he was detained without a warrant.
“The Command wishes to state equivocally that the Service is a responsible security agency set up by the laws of the Federation, with the mandate of keeping the legally interned.
“The Nigerian Correctional Service only admits persons legally interned by a competent court of law or a military court martial. In the case of the said General, he was legally detained by a military court martial, with a valid warrant.”
The Correctional Service in the statement said that it was rather unfortunate for the said group, acting without knowledge of how the system works, to feed the public with false information bourne out of crass ignorance.
“Asking the Nigerian Correctional Service to release the Major General who was legally interned by a military court martial, is a aberration to the criminal justice process,” the it stated.
Furthermore, the FCT Command of the Service enjoined the public to disregard the call by the said group as it was committed to safe and humane custody of all persons committed in its care.