A lawyer, U.O.David has alleged that the Nigeria Police Force in
Aba, Abia state, has refused to obey an order of Aba High Court
which directed it to set free his client, Ekene Nwankwo.
The order issued by Justice I.A. Nwabughogu on September, 18,
2019, is being flouted by the law enforcement agency following the
refusal to set Mr. Nwankwo free as ordered by the Court,
TheNigerialawyer (TNL), gathered.
The lawyer, U.O David confirmed to TNL that his client, Nwankwo,
has been in police detention at the central police station, Aba,
since August 20, 2019, by the Inspector General of Police
Squad.
When TNL made enquiries on the reason for the disobedience of
the court order, David informed TNL that the only reason given for
the failure to obey the Court order here in Aba, Abia State is that
the case file has been transferred to Abuja together with the
Applicant.
“An order by the said Court is that he should be released
forthwith. Yet, the police refused to release my Client, Ekene
Nwankwo till today even when the said order of the Aba High Court
had long been served on them.
“When are we going to get it right without due respect and
regards to the rule of law?
“The main issue now is that, we are no longer sure if the young
man is still alive because they don’t allow his family members to
see or talk to him, especially now that his pregnant wife is facing
psychological trauma due to the failure to allow her see her
husband for over 2months now. The order was given in SUIT NO:
A/M233/2019, and with SERIAL NO: 2804143.
The order reads in part:
“That the 1st to 4th Respondents are hereby ordered to release
the Applicant who they have continued to detain since 20th day of
August, 2019, FORTHWITH pending the hearing and determination of
the substantive application which has been served on them.
“The suit is adjourned to the 23rd day of September, 2019.
Issued at the High Court Aba, under the seal of the court and
hand of the presiding judge this 18th day of September, 2019.”
Nwankwo had approached the Court with a fundamental human right
suit challenging his detention without trial by the police.
TheNigerialawyer (TNL) in a telephone conversation with the O/C
Legal, Abia State, Adeyemi confirmed what the counsel to Nwankwo
said that the case file was transferred.
“I went to the Inspector General of Police Squad to meet with
the investigative team on the case on the release of the suspect,
Ekene Nwankwo, but I was informed that the matter has been
transferred to Abuja,” Adeyemi said.
One begins to wonder why the orders made by competent courts in
the land are being flouted without recourse to the rule of law.
In the suit, filed on his behalf by his lawyer, U.O David, the
plaintiff prayed the court to order Police to release him or prefer
charges against him if he had committed any offence known to
law.
The Defendants in the suit are Inspector General Of Police,
Commissioner Of Police, Abia State, Aba Area Commander, Peter
Ukachi Opara, Investigation Police Officer, Augustine.
David, is urging the Nigeria Police to do the right thing by
obeying the court order and release Ekene Nwankwo.