…RULAAC, Lawyer Demand Release of Suspect Held on Murder Charge
By Juliana Francis
A controversy has erupted over the death of 19-year-old Nnamdi Chidi, as his mother, Mrs Augustina Ogbaja Onuoha, has denied claims by police investigators that her son was murdered, raising serious concerns about due process, conflicting investigations, and the continued detention of a suspect.
The police investigators involved in the case are attached to the Force Intelligence Department (FID), Force Headquarters, Abuja.
Several videos of Mrs Onuoha recounting events at her family compound in Enugu State were made available to this reporter.
In one of the recordings, two men who visited the family to offer condolences explained to her that they were acting on the instructions of a “chairman” to ascertain what truly transpired at the compound.
Mrs Onuoha narrated that one Mr Ifeanyi Okeke came to her compound, wielding a machete, attacked the gate, and issued threats, allegedly warning that if his brothers, who were then in detention, were not released, there would be bloodshed within two days.
According to her, Mr Okeke, whom she described as a “brother” and called by his nickname, did not physically harm or touch anyone during the incident.
When asked whether anyone was injured during the episode, she maintained that although he shouted, issued threats, and damaged the gate with his machete, no one was assaulted before he left the premises.
Two days after the incident, Nnamdi Chidi, who was said to have been battling health challenges, died.
Mr Ifeanyi Okeke is now being held responsible for the teenager’s death, despite his mother’s repeated insistence that the man did not touch or harm anyone on the day of the incident.
It was further gathered that Mr Okeke is not the only person accused of murder in connection with the case.
Some individuals who were reportedly not present at the time of the incident have also been implicated, according to police reports.
Amid the growing controversy, the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) and a community lawyer have called on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, and the Enugu State Governor, Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, to intervene in what they describe as the unlawful and prolonged detention of Mr Okeke.
The Executive Director of RULAAC, Mr Okechukwu Nwanguma, said the case is characterised by two conflicting and mutually exclusive narratives regarding the cause of the teenager’s death.
According to him, one account alleges that Nnamdi Chidi died from injuries sustained during a violent attack, with a purported autopsy report said to have established a prima facie case of murder.
The other account, however, is supported by statements attributed to the deceased’s mother, who has consistently maintained that her son was not assaulted.
“These two narratives cannot both be true,” Nwanguma said. “Yet, despite this fundamental contradiction, a suspect remains in detention, while the public is left with unanswered questions.”
He stressed that RULAAC’s intervention was not aimed at shielding anyone from lawful investigation but at ensuring that truth, transparency, and justice prevail.
RULAAC also raised serious concerns about the authenticity and credibility of the autopsy report allegedly relied upon by investigators.
“To date, critical questions remain unanswered,” Nwanguma said. “Who conducted the autopsy, and what are the pathologist’s credentials? Was it carried out in line with established medico-legal standards? Why does the alleged conclusion of homicide directly contradict the mother’s own statements denying any assault?”
He noted that in homicide investigations, forensic evidence must be beyond reproach and not itself a source of controversy.
The rights group expressed particular concern that the continued detention of Ifeanyi Okeke appears to be based on allegations contradicted by the deceased’s mother, who is a central and material witness in the case.
“Where a key witness is on record denying homicide, continued detention without prompt judicial clarification raises serious constitutional and human rights concerns,” Nwanguma said, citing the presumption of innocence and the rights to personal liberty and fair hearing guaranteed under Sections 35 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution.
Nwanguma further warned that the case does not exist in isolation, pointing to longstanding intra-community disputes in Agunese Mmaku Community, Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State.
“There are allegations that the traditional ruler and some associates have previously submitted petitions against community members,” he said. “Some of these petitions included claims of sponsoring proscribed or terrorist groups, which led to arrests and prolonged police involvement, but were later challenged as false and motivated by personal, political, or financial interests.”
Against this backdrop, RULAAC expressed concern that police processes may be at risk of being weaponised to settle private or community disputes rather than to establish the objective truth.
The organisation said it was deeply troubled that Ifeanyi Okeke remains in detention despite unresolved contradictions surrounding the cause of death, disputed forensic evidence, conflicting testimony from a key witness, and credible allegations of abuse of police processes.
RULAAC called on the IGP to immediately review the legal basis for the suspect’s continued detention, order an independent and transparent review of the autopsy report, objectively assess all witness statements, including that of the deceased’s mother, and ensure strict compliance with constitutional safeguards and due process.
“Justice is not served by prolonged detention amid unresolved contradictions,” Nwanguma said. “Justice is served by truth, transparency, accountability, and respect for the rule of law.”
Earlier reports indicate that the death of Nnamdi Chidi, who is maternally linked to Agunese Mmaku Community, followed a chain of events involving police operations and family disputes.
It was alleged that a relative of the deceased, Mr Jonathan Azubike Onuoha, led a team of FID officers from Abuja to arrest Emmanuel Okeke, brother of Ifeanyi Okeke, in connection with an ongoing investigation.
According to allegations, in the early hours of May 6, 2025, Ifeanyi Okeke, Emmanuel’s younger brother, allegedly threatened Jonathan Onuoha by phone, warning that violence would follow if Emmanuel was not released within 48 hours.
It was further alleged that the threat was carried out when a group reportedly attacked Jonathan Onuoha’s family home, damaged the gate, and assaulted his elder sister and her children, who were visiting at the time. One of the children was said to be Nnamdi Chidi, who later died on May 8, 2025, at Beacon Hospital, Awgu, from injuries allegedly sustained during the attack.
Investigators reportedly conducted an autopsy and established a prima facie case of murder, after which the Force Headquarters Homicide Unit took over the case and arrested Ifeanyi Okeke.
However, Barrister Vincent Okafor, legal adviser to the Agunese Mmaku Community, strongly disputed the murder allegation.
He said Mrs Onuoha has consistently maintained that her son was not assaulted and died from natural causes linked to a pre-existing medical condition.
According to Okafor, her statement was recorded on video and submitted to the IGP Monitoring Unit.
He added that the Monitoring Unit later visited the community, conducted on-the-spot inquiries, and concluded that no homicide occurred and that the murder allegation was fabricated.
The lawyer explained that the Monitoring Unit’s intervention followed petitions alleging that false murder accusations were being used to harass and detain innocent persons, and was aimed at ensuring investigative integrity, lawful oversight, and adherence to due process.
The counter-narrative further alleges that those pushing the murder claim have a history of submitting malicious petitions against community members, including allegations made in January 2022 accusing prominent individuals of sponsoring proscribed groups claims that were later disputed.
It was also alleged that those advancing the murder allegation avoided engagement with the IGP Monitoring Unit and instead sought court orders to restrain further police interviews.
