Detained lawyer writes UK, US over abuse of power by Police

Emeka Ungwuonye

A detained legal practitioner, Emeka Ugwuonye, has petitioned the United Kingdom, United States, the Amnesty International and Attorney General of Federal and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) over the alleged abuse prosecutory power by the Nigerian Police.

Ugwuonye, who has been remanded in Kuje prison for over 11 months, claimed that the murder and robbery charges against him were allegedly fabricated by the Police.

He had last week petitioned the National Assembly over the same case.

In the petition written by Due Process Advocate International, DPA and signed by Kevin Asekome, the petitioner said that he was framed up for disappearance and presumed murder of one Mrs. Charity Aiyedogbon because of his criticism of Police of poor handling of the case.

The petition reads in part: “In normal court of the work of DPA under the leadership of Emeka, it discovered a massive police cover-up in a murder case in relation to the disappearance and presumed murder of one Mrs. Charity Aiyedogbon. DPA publicly called on the Police at the FCT for a thorough investigation into the case .

“The Police officer at the FCT Command ignored the call. DPA criticized the police for tyr clear effort to cover up and suppress evidence in the case.

“Angered by DPA’s criticism of the police, the Commissioner of Police for FCT, Mr. Bala Ciroma, ordered unlawful arrest and detention of Emeka on July 6, 2018.”

“Emeka was released on July 10, 2018.

“Upon Emeka release from ‘Abattoir’ DPA made a documentary video seeking to expose the ‘Abattoir’ atrocities. The Commissioner of Police for the FCT Abuja conspired with other officers who were implicated in these atrocities, to suppress the documentary.

“The method they chose was to fabricate impossible murder and armed robbery charges against Emeka, in what will go down as one of the most gross abuses of the prosecutorial power of the Police.”

DPA however requested the Attorney General of Federation to take over the case.