The continued detention of contractor Mr. Anthony Okpala under the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has ignited widespread concern over inmate welfare, medical care, and adherence to the rule of law, according to rights advocate Kalu Amah.
Speaking on the matter, Amah said the Okpala case has moved beyond an individual health concern to expose deeper systemic issues within Nigeria’s correctional system, including alleged intimidation of inmates, disregard for court orders, and interference with medical treatment.
Civil society organisations, lawyers, and human rights advocates are currently demanding Okpala’s immediate release to enable him access full medical care, amid reports that his health condition has deteriorated while in custody.
Amah stressed that under the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, responsibility for protecting inmates who complain of maltreatment lies with correctional officers at all levels, including the Officer-in-Charge of a facility, the Controller of Corrections, prison visitors, and ultimately the Comptroller-General of Corrections.
However, he noted that in Okpala’s case, complaints of ill-treatment and medical distress were allegedly followed by transfers between facilities and interruptions in medical care, rather than investigation and protection.
“This raises serious questions about whether inmates in Nigeria truly retain their fundamental rights while in custody,” Amah said, adding that the law clearly guarantees inmates the right to dignity, health, and access to medical treatment.
He further pointed out that Okpala is an awaiting-trial detainee, not a convicted prisoner, and should therefore enjoy additional legal protections.
Rights advocates, he said, are questioning whether Okpala was improperly treated as a convict in violation of established regulations.
Another area of concern highlighted by Amah is the unexplained transfer of inmates.
He questioned whether Okpala was informed of the reasons for his movement between correctional facilities and whether such transfers were administrative, medical, or punitive.
“Moving an inmate during a medical crisis without transparency undermines due process and creates the impression of retaliation,” he warned.
The rights advocate also raised alarm over allegations of inmates paying for preferential treatment within correctional centres, noting that Nigerian law makes no provision for such practices and calling for a thorough investigation where such claims arise.
More controversially, Amah cited allegations that senior correctional officers removed Okpala from a hospital without medical clearance and, in one instance, allegedly influenced a medical prescription without the patient present.
Medical ethicists, he said, regard such actions—if proven—as grave violations of professional standards and patient rights.
He further described reports that armed, masked men accompanied senior officers to remove Okpala from a medical facility as deeply troubling, questioning the necessity of such force in a hospital environment.
Amah also expressed concern over claims that correctional authorities ignored a valid court order directing that Okpala continue receiving medical treatment, instead transferring him to Ogun State without adequate provision for his medication, feeding, or healthcare.
“Disobedience of a court order amounts to contempt and weakens the authority of the judiciary,” he said.
On accountability, Amah noted that senior correctional officers are not immune from discipline, stressing that sanctions can be imposed by the Comptroller-General, the Ministry of Interior, the Public Service Commission, and the courts, with anti-corruption and human rights agencies empowered to intervene where necessary.
For many observers, he said, the Anthony Okpala case represents a critical test of Nigeria’s correctional reforms and the government’s commitment to human rights.
“As long as these questions remain unanswered, public confidence in the correctional system will continue to erode,” Amah said, insisting that Okpala’s release for comprehensive medical treatment has become urgent and unavoidable.
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian Correctional Service had not issued a detailed response to the allegations, while advocacy groups say they will continue to press for justice, accountability, and respect for inmate rights.
