The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has called for an independent investigation into allegations of unlawful detention, extortion and seizure of a mobile phone involving the Anambra State Police Command and a woman, Ms Nwosu Chikamso Jennifer.
RULAAC’s demand followed Jennifer’s reported re-arrest after she had earlier complained of alleged unlawful detention and claimed that ₦600,000 was paid in connection with securing her release.
In a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by its Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, the organisation said the conflicting accounts between Jennifer and the police required an impartial investigation.
RULAAC acknowledged that the police had a responsibility to investigate the killing for which Jennifer was reportedly questioned, as well as any credible allegation that she assisted a suspect to evade arrest.
However, the organisation said the criminal investigation should be separated from allegations made against police officers involved in Jennifer’s detention.
The Anambra State Police Command has denied that ₦600,000 or any other amount was demanded or collected as a condition for Jennifer’s release.
According to RULAAC, the police also alleged that Jennifer was arrested because investigators established communication between her and the suspect and suspected that she assisted him in evading arrest.
“These are matters capable of objective investigation and determination,” RULAAC said.
The organisation argued that the Anambra Command could no longer be allowed to investigate allegations against its own officers, given that its personnel had been directly accused of unlawful detention, extortion and improper seizure or retention of property.
“Since the Command and its officers are now directly accused parties in allegations of unlawful detention, extortion and improper seizure or retention of property, the requirements of fairness, impartiality and natural justice make it inappropriate for the same Command to investigate and determine the allegations against itself,” it said.
RULAAC said its concern had been heightened by Jennifer’s subsequent re-arrest after the organisation had raised an alarm over losing contact with her following her return to the police facility.
It said it had demanded information about her whereabouts, legal status, place of detention and whether she had access to her lawyer and family.
The group also expressed concern over information allegedly communicated to it that Jennifer had been accused of having “betrayed” the police after making her complaint.
“If correct, such language is profoundly troubling,” RULAAC said.
It added that a citizen who complains about alleged police misconduct should not be exposed to retaliation, intimidation or pressure.
“A citizen who complains about alleged misconduct by police officers does not ‘betray’ the Police by reporting what she says happened to her,” the organisation said.
RULAAC further questioned whether Jennifer was currently being held lawfully and whether she had unrestricted access to legal representation.
“The immediate question now is: Where exactly is Jennifer being held, under what legal authority, and does she currently have free, confidential and unhindered access to a lawyer of her choice and reasonable access to her family?” it asked.
The organisation urged the police to clarify Jennifer’s legal status, saying that if she was suspected of committing a criminal offence, the specific offence should be disclosed, and her constitutional rights respected.
It also raised concerns over reports that Jennifer subsequently denied, in the presence of her lawyer, that ₦600,000 had been demanded or obtained from her.
RULAAC said the reported denial contradicted her earlier communication to the organisation alleging that money had been paid in connection with securing her release.
It said it did not presume which of the conflicting accounts was accurate, stressing that the contradiction was itself a reason for an independent investigation.
“Where a complainant makes allegations against police officers and is subsequently re-arrested and remains within the control of the institution she accused, any purported withdrawal, modification or contradiction of her original complaint must be approached with caution and independently verified,” RULAAC said.
The organisation called for the preservation and examination of relevant evidence, including custody and station registers, investigation diaries, bail and release documents, records concerning the seizure and retention of Jennifer’s telephone, and the identities of officers involved in her arrest, interrogation, detention and release.
It also called for the examination of available CCTV footage and banking, electronic-transfer and telephone records that could establish whether money changed hands and, if so, to whom and for what purpose.
RULAAC said the police denial of the alleged ₦600,000 payment should not, by itself, be regarded as sufficient to resolve the allegation.
“An allegation of this seriousness requires investigation and evidence,” it said.
The organisation therefore urged the Inspector-General of Police to immediately transfer the investigation into Jennifer’s allegations outside the Anambra State Police Command.
It called for an “independent, impartial and transparent investigation” into the allegations of unlawful detention, alleged ₦600,000 extortion and seizure of her telephone.
According to RULAAC, such an investigation would not prevent the Anambra State Police Command from pursuing the substantive investigation into the killing and other alleged cult-related crimes.
“What it prevents is the unacceptable situation in which an institution effectively becomes investigator and arbiter of serious allegations made against its own officers,” it said.
RULAAC also demanded immediate confirmation of Jennifer’s whereabouts, legal status and access to counsel and family, as well as guarantees that she would not face retaliation for making allegations against police officers.
“Accountability does not obstruct criminal investigation. It strengthens its credibility,” the organisation said.
“The Police can vigorously investigate murder and other serious crimes while simultaneously respecting the rights of suspects and submitting allegations of misconduct by their own officers to genuinely independent scrutiny.
“That is what the rule of law requires.”
