According to a news report from Punch, the Kwara State Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has refuted allegations of negligence in the death of Kwara land agent, Alhaji Hussein Abubakar, who passed away last Friday in Ilorin.

Contrary to reports, the correctional service clarified that the 63-year-old land agent, who was on remand, died at a hospital and not within their facility.

Abubakar had been remanded at Oke-Kura Custodian Centre, Ilorin, following a land dispute that led to legal proceedings. He succumbed to illness on Friday, according to sources.

However, relatives alleged negligence by the NCoS, claiming inadequate medical attention was given to him when he fell ill.

In response, the NCoS Kwara State Command denied any responsibility for Abubakar's demise. They stated that when he fell ill, he was promptly taken to the hospital and passed away in the presence of his children.

The family member said, “He (Abubakar) was involved in land deals that resulted in court matters. The court released him on bail but he could not appear in court on the day when he was to attend court because he was sick. So, he was picked up and detained since then, about four or five months ago. And he was not brought to court since then but was abandoned.”

However, the Kwara State Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service denied culpability in Abubakar’s death.

The NCoS said that it took the necessary steps by taking the deceased to the hospital when he was sick, adding that “he died in the hands of his children.”

In a statement on Sunday by its spokesman, Adegbulugbe Philip, the NCoS said,

“The awaiting-trial inmate, Hussein Ishola Abubakar, was an awaiting-trial inmate in Old Ilorin Custodial Centre, Okekura and came with three court warrants, one from the high court, another from the magistrates’ court, and the last warrant from the area court.

“The deceased inmate was suffering from heart disease.

“The correctional service has no right to release any inmate without a legal warrant from a court of competent jurisdiction.

“He was taken to the General Hospital for treatment and he died in the hands of two of his children right in the hospital.

“Treatment of inmates above the capacity of the custodial centre clinics are referred to the government hospitals for normal treatment as done in the case of Hussein Ishola Abubakar.

“Hussein Ishola Abubakar gave up the ghost at the General Hospital, Ilorin in the presence of two of his children.”

The statement quoted the Controller of Corrections, Kwara State Command as enjoining the general public to “disregard the said malicious publications rather than the fact that Hussein Ishola Abubakar died at the General Hospital, Ilorin, in the hands of two of his children and the fact that the correctional service has no legal right to free or release any inmates without a legal warrant from a court of competent jurisdiction.”