Enugu Indigenes Sue Police IG, Community Members Over Alleged Illegal Arrest, Detention

Three Enugu State indigenes have filed a lawsuit against the Inspector General of Police, the Police Service Commission, the AIG Force CID Annex, Enugu, and several community members, claiming illegal arrest and detention and seeking significant compensation for violations of their fundamental human rights.

Charles Uche, Sunday Nwafor, and Ebuka Okolie, all of Uhuegu Village in the Ugwuleshi Autonomous Community of Awgu Local Government Area, filed the suit, EN/CS/FHR/320/25, before an Enugu State High Court.

In addition to the police officers, the suit names Gabriel Ejinaka Nwankwonta, Francis Osita Nwobi, Ben Chukwu, Christian Nwankwo, and Theophi Okeji as respondents.

The plaintiffs are seeking N110 million in compensation, including N100 million in damages and N10 million in general damages, citing harassment, molestation, and psychological torture inflicted on them.

The suit seeks several declarations from the court, including a declaration that the actions of the police and community members violate their fundamental rights as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

They contend that the constant threats of arrest and detention, allegedly motivated by their refusal to allow extortion in the community, are illegal and unconstitutional.

Specifically, the plaintiffs claim that they were arrested and detained for more than two days at the request of the community members listed as respondents after refusing to pay levies for a road project already initiated by a philanthropist.

According to Uche, the respondents, Nwankwonta, Nwobi, Chukwu, Nwankwo, and Okeji, allegedly used thugs to extort levies after physically assaulting him. He claims Nwafor summoned the police to arrest the thugs, but they were apprehended after being falsely accused of vandalising the community transformer and forcing people to join a traditionalist group.

The plaintiffs also claim that their rights were violated by being denied access to legal counsel and forced to make statements without legal representation.

The plaintiffs are requesting a court order that prohibits the respondents from further harassment, arrest, or detention. They are also demanding that community members Nwankwonta, Nwobi, Chukwu, Nwankwo, and Okeji issue a written apology for the alleged “vengeful, inhumane, and degrading treatment.”

The plaintiffs claim to have already reported the actions of the Deputy Commissioner of Police and the Force CID Annex, Enugu to the Police Service Commission and the Inspector General of Police.

There is no date set for the hearing. The outcome of this case could have far-reaching consequences for the protection of fundamental human rights and the accountability of law enforcement agencies in Enugu State and elsewhere.