A Rwandan citizen identified as Benjamin Relasss has reportedly died in custody at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, sparking allegations of medical neglect and misconduct within the facility.
Sources familiar with the matter alleged that Relasss died on Tuesday morning while awaiting trial in a financial-related case before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
According to the allegations, Relasss had been in detention since 2023 after he was denied bail, reportedly on the grounds that he was not a Nigerian citizen.
The sources further claimed that inmates requiring specialised medical attention outside the correctional facility often face difficulties in obtaining referrals for treatment.
They alleged that some officials demand substantial sums of money before approving recommendations for treatment at external hospitals, despite the correctional centre’s purported lack of adequate medical equipment and specialist personnel to handle certain health conditions.
According to sources, the Kuje facility is short of adequate medical resources, with inmates requiring external treatment sometimes unable to access timely referrals.
“Benjamin Relasss, a Rwandan citizen died inside Kuje Prison this morning (Tuesday) due to outright neglect and care by an overambitious and money mongering officer in the facility,” a source said.
“The officer demands huge cash from inmates who are sick before allowing the patient to be recommended to hospitals outside because the Kuje facility lacks adequate equipment and medical specialists.”
“Today, the Rwandan citizen Benjamin Relasss is dead while awaiting trial on a financial-related case before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja,” the source added.
Another source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, alleged that inadequate access to medical care remains a serious concern at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
“Yes, the Rwandan is dead. At Kuje prison, they request money before any sick person is taken to the hospital,” the source said.
“In fact, there is another inmate who is critically ill and currently at the prison clinic. They are allegedly demanding money before writing to the Chief Judge because he has only five months left on his sentence. Because there is no money, he is still lying in the clinic.”
Efforts to obtain a response from the Nigerian Correctional Service on the allegations and the circumstances surrounding the death of Relasss were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
The National Spokesperson of the service, Chief Superintendent of Corrections (CSC) Jane Osuji, did not respond to phone calls or a text message sent to her.