Imo Chief Magistrate recommends prosecution of ACP, Inspector for alleged extortion, corruption

From George Onyejiuwa, Owerri

The Chief Magistrate, E.U Chinaka, sitting as a Coroner in the inquest into the death of Japheth Njoku in the cell of the Anti Kidnapping Unit (Tiger Base) of the Imo State Police Command, has recommended the prosecution of the head of the unit, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Mr Oladimeji Odeyeyiwa, and Inspector Barnabas for alleged extortion, intimidation, and corruption.

The Coroner also recommended adequate compensation to the Njoku family and to bear the cost of the burial.

The Chief Magistrate further recommended the transfer of officers serving at the Anti-Kidnapping unit, installation of functional CCTV, and improved training for investigating police officers on lawful detention. The recommendations are to be implemented within three months.

The Coroner, in his findings, said that Njoku was detained for about six weeks over an allegation of stealing, a bailable offence, and that demands for money contributed to his continued detention.

The court also rejected the attempt to justify his prolonged detention by portraying him as a terrorist and found that the explanation had been concocted to justify prolonged detention and extortion by the head of the unit, Oladimeji Odeyeyiwa (ASP).

In the report, the Coroner said “that conditions at the Anti-Kidnapping Unit violated detainees’ rights to dignity, personal liberty, legal representation, and bail. It is a system characterised by torture, intimidation and extortion.”

The court further found that Njoku’s prolonged detention and the inhuman conditions in which he was held contributed to the deterioration of his health and eventual death.

The Executive Director of the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), Mr Okechukwu Nwanguma, who commended the Coroner, said his findings has vindicated the persistent efforts of Njoku’s family, their lawyer, Dr. Christian C. Nwadigo, human rights organisations, and other concerned citizens who refused to allow Jeptheh’s death in police custody to be buried without an independent judicial inquiry.

Nwanguma said that the eventual conclusion of this inquest came only after months of resistance, delay, and reported attempts to frustrate the court-ordered autopsy and intimidate material witnesses by Oladimeji Odeyeyiwa.

“On June 11, 2025, the Coroner ordered that an autopsy be conducted between June 16 and June 28, under the supervision of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Imo State Ministry of Justice, with provision for an independent pathologist chosen by the family to observe the examination. The court also summoned Inspector Barnabas, ACP Oladimeji and other material witnesses and directed the Commissioner of Police to ensure compliance. Yet the summoned police officers and others failed to appear at the proceedings on June 11.”

Continuing, “RULAAC, therefore, calls on the Attorney-General of Imo State to act promptly on the recommendation for prosecution. The prosecutorial review should not be artificially restricted to extortion and corruption. The entire record of the inquest should be examined to determine whether the evidence discloses additional offences under the Anti-Torture Act 2017 and other applicable criminal laws.

“RULAAC further calls on the Inspector-General of Police and the Police Service Commission to institute an independent investigation into the attempts to frustrate the autopsy and Coroner’s proceedings, including identifying every officer who failed to comply with court orders, impeded access to Njoku’s body, participated in the alleged intimidation of witnesses, or otherwise attempted to obstruct the inquest.

The Police Service Commission should also commence appropriate disciplinary proceedings against any officer found to have engaged in misconduct,” he said.

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