The Nigerian Correctional Service, Gombe State Command, has denied allegations that it prevented members of Take-It-Back Movement from visiting remanded state coordinator, Thomas Umar.
Our correspondent reports that Umar, 32, was remanded on April 10, 2025 at the Gombe Medium Security Custodial Centre on the order of Federal High Court, Gombe.
He is being held in custody for the offence of insult, enmity, hatred and ill-will which is a punishable under the Cybercrime Act 2015, now amended, following a case filed by Minority Whip of House of Representatives and member representing Billiri Balanga Federal Constituency, Ali Isa.
According to a statement obtained by our correspondent on Sunday, which was signed by DSC Abdullahi Hamma, the Command’s Public Relations Officer on behalf of Salihu Abdullahi, the Controller of Corrections, Gombe State Command, reports that officials barred members of the group was false.
Hamma described the allegations being peddled by an online news outlet as false, unpatriotic and an attempt at denting the good image of the Service.
He said that NCoS remained committed to ensuring that the rights of every inmate was protected in line with the provisions of the law.
The statement said, “The attention of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Gombe State Command has been drawn to a purported online report.
“The online report alleged that officials of the MSCC Gombe blocked members of the above mentioned group from visiting the said Thomas Umar.
“The Command wishes to inform the general public that this report is false, unpatriotic and also fabricated to paint the image of the Service in bad light.”
It added that the concerned inmate, Umar, had earlier applied through the Welfare Office that only few authorised persons would visit him, stressing that the names of those persons he wishes to see were clearly listed in the content of his application.
He said that Umar, clearly in his application stated that any visitor whose names were not mentioned in his application should not be allowed unless with his “humble consent”.
While urging the media to painstakingly fact-check reports to avoid circulating falsehoods, he stressed the need for members of the public to disregard the report.
“The NCoS is committed to upholding justice and fairness in ensuring that all inmates in custody are being properly reformed, rehabilitated and reintegrated at the expiration of their jail term,” Hamma added.
