An Abuja-based lawyer, Marshal Abubakar, has called for the release of a human rights activist, social justice crusader, and public affairs commentator Onwuka Chimezie aka [...]
An Abuja-based lawyer, Marshal Abubakar, has called for the release of a human rights activist, social justice crusader, and public affairs commentator Onwuka Chimezie aka Mezie from the custody of the Nigeria Police Force.
According to a press release made available to Blueprint.ng on Monday, the activist was reportedly arrested on Friday September 4, 2026 at about 3 pm, and was whisked away by officers of the Anti- kidnapping squad of the Rivers state Police Command at the behest of the Commissioner of Police Rivers state, Olugbenga Adepoju Adewole in relation to his views on the allegations of land grabbing.
The gestapo kidnap of Comrade Mezie, his nefarious transport by road from Abuja to Port Harcourt, according to Marshal, was a gross violation of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria as amended, the Police Act, 2020, the Police Regulations, 2025 and several international treaties CP Olugbenga (and all other police officers) swore to uphold but has grossly violated.
“The police Act clearly prohibits torture (physical, emotional, and mental). The gestapo abduction of Mezie and the subsequent risking of his life via road transportation he added violates the Anti-Torture provisions of the 1999 Constitution, the Police Act and Regulations, the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights and the Anti-Torture Act, 2015 which prescribes a punishment of 25 years imprisonment in addition to restitution.
“In this regard, we demand immediate disciplinary action against CP Adepoju Olugbenga and the officers he deplored for this dastardly act.
”We equally demand an immediate and unconditional release of Mezie from unlawful custody.”
Citing further, he said: “the in ISENALUMHE VS. AMASU & 3 ORS. (2001) 1 CHR 458, the court held that: “The police have the responsibility to enhance the quality of the liberty and dignity of the citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as guaranteed by the Constitution. Where they fail in this task, their failure must not be allowed to work to the detriment of law-abiding citizens. Their failure must be checked timeously to enhance the principles and ideals upon which a free society is built. Nigeria is a free country in democracy and the air of freedom must be inhaled by the citizens in their unbridled enjoyment of the well-entrenched fundamental human rights.
“Ditto, Regulation 169 of the Police Act, A police officer shall not conduct himself in a manner that- (a) beings his private interests into conflict with his public duties; or (b) is likely to give rise to a reasonable suspicion that he has- (i) allowed his private interests to influence the discharge of his public duties, or (ii) used his official position for personal gain or private advantage. By Regulations 170. A police officer shall (a) respect the human rights and dignity of a person in custody.”
