By Okechukwu Nwanguma
The ominous account by Barrister Chinedu Agu deserves serious attention from everyone concerned about the rule of law and the shrinking civic space in Nigeria.
If an old criminal file that had effectively gone dormant is now being revived against a lawyer who has remained outspoken in challenging alleged abuses of power, the authorities must understand that the circumstances will inevitably raise legitimate questions about motive, timing and abuse of prosecutorial discretion.
No lawyer, journalist, activist or citizen is above the law. Where credible evidence exists that anyone has committed an offence, the law should take its course through a transparent, impartial and constitutionally compliant process.
But criminal justice must never be weaponised to punish dissent, intimidate critics or settle political scores.
Barrister Chinedu Agu has been outspoken in Imo State on issues of human rights, police abuse, unlawful detention and governmental accountability. His professional responsibility as a lawyer includes defending citizens whose rights are violated and speaking against abuses of state power. Those activities cannot legitimately be converted into grounds for persecution.
The reported circumstances are particularly troubling if they involve attempts to resurrect matters connected with his previous arrest and detention, especially where aspects of that process have already been challenged before the courts.
The Attorney-General, the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Nigeria Police Force are public institutions. Their powers belong to the law, not to individual officeholders. Prosecutorial discretion must be exercised independently, fairly and in the public interest—not at the prompting of political displeasure.
If there is a genuine case against Chinedu Agu, let the authorities disclose the allegation, follow due process and allow an independent court to determine it. There must be no abduction-style arrest, unnecessary interstate rendition, prolonged detention, denial of access to counsel or other measures calculated to humiliate or intimidate him.
And if the objective is simply to silence an inconvenient voice, those contemplating such a course should reconsider.
Nigeria has travelled this road too many times. The history of our democracy is littered with examples of governments using police powers and criminal prosecution against outspoken lawyers, journalists and activists, only for those actions ultimately to strengthen the very voices they were intended to suppress.
Speaking truth to power is not a crime.
The appropriate response to criticism is to answer it with facts, lawful conduct and accountable governance—not handcuffs.
RULAAC therefore calls on the Inspector-General of Police, the Attorney-General of Imo State and all other authorities who may become involved in this matter to ensure that every action concerning Barrister Chinedu Agu complies strictly with the Constitution, the Police Act, applicable criminal procedure laws and Nigeria’s human-rights obligations.
The public will be watching.
Mr Okechukwu Nwanguma is the Executive Director, Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC).
