Author name: Umar Idris Shuaibu

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is collaborating with the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) to ensure inmates can exercise their constitutional right to vote in future elections. INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, made the disclosure on Friday when he received the Comptroller General of the Correctional Service, Sylvester Nwakuche, at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja. Yakubu referenced a series of court rulings, including those by the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal in Benin, which affirmed the rights of inmates, especially those awaiting trial to register and vote in elections. He emphasized that the right to vote is a fundamental human right, adding that many countries, including Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa, have implemented inmate voting. Read Also: FG Issues Flood Alert Across 19 States as Heavy Rainfall Predicted “We are aware that the right to vote is a human right which cannot be taken away from a citizen on account of time being served in a correctional facility,” he said. “However, to operationalize this right, we need clear legal backing. That is why our immediate task is to engage the National Assembly for clarity and legal provisions.” Yakubu noted that INEC had previously initiated discussions with the Correctional Service, including setting up a joint technical committee to examine operational issues such as access to facilities, polling unit creation, and voter education for inmates. He also raised concerns about the participation of political parties, observers, and the media in the voting process within correctional centres. He explained that while some inmates are already registered voters, the Commission needs to clarify interpretations of Section 12(1)(e) of the Electoral Act 2022, which bars citizens with “legal incapacity” from registering to vote. “We need to establish whether this clause applies to inmates on death row, those serving life sentences, or those convicted of treason,” Yakubu added. Comptroller General Sylvester Nwakuche, in his remarks, stressed the importance of respecting inmates’ electoral rights, especially for the over 66% of Nigeria’s 81,000 inmates who are awaiting trial. He cited the 2019 Court of Appeal judgment, which upheld the rights of inmates to vote but declined to mandate INEC to create registration centres in prisons. Both institutions agreed on the urgency of aligning ongoing electoral reforms with international best practices to accommodate inmates’ voting rights. INEC reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring free, fair, and inclusive elections for all eligible Nigerian citizens, including those in custody, as long as their rights remain constitutionally protected.

The Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board has dismissed 15 officers of the Nigerian Correctional Service for serious misconduct, following a disciplinary review of 224 cases involving personnel across the service. This was disclosed in a statement issued Thursday by the Service’s spokesperson, Umar Abubakar. According to the statement, the Board’s Disciplinary and General Purpose Committee carried out “extensive investigations and due process” before recommending various sanctions, ranging from dismissals to demotions and warnings. Read Also: CDCFIB Approves Promotion of 30 Correctional Controllers to ACG Rank “A total of 15 personnel were dismissed from the Service for serious misconduct and violation of Service regulations,” Abubakar said. In addition to the dismissals, 59 officers were demoted due to confirmed breaches of professional standards, while 42 others received written warnings as part of corrective measures. The statement also revealed that 16 personnel were cleared of any wrongdoing, while seven others remain suspended pending the conclusion of ongoing investigations. In one notable case, an officer was suspended and recommended for handover to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for possible prosecution. Furthermore, the Board approved the compulsory retirement of eight officers. It also reversed the promotion of one officer and ordered the refund of salaries he received while holding the reversed rank. The Controller General of Corrections, Sylvester Nwakuche, reiterated the Service’s commitment to upholding discipline and professionalism, stating that all disciplinary actions are carried out in strict compliance with extant rules and procedures. He also urged the public to continue cooperating with the Service as it works to uphold integrity within its ranks.