The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has called on the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun Disu, to order an independent investigation into allegations of extortion, unlawful detention and improper seizure of property involving the Anambra State Police Command and Ms Nwosu Chikamso Jennifer.
RULAAC, in a petition to the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, said Jennifer alleged that she was detained for four days by operatives of the Anambra State Police Command, that N600,000 was paid in connection with securing her release, and that her mobile phone was seized and retained by the police.
However, the Anambra State Police Command has denied collecting the N600,000, saying Jennifer was arrested after investigators allegedly established communication between her and a suspect wanted in connection with a killing.
According to the police, investigators also suspected that Jennifer assisted the wanted suspect in evading arrest.
RULAAC, however, said it was not asking the police to shield Jennifer from investigation or prosecution if there was credible evidence linking her to an offence.
“If there is credible evidence that she committed an offence, the Nigeria Police Force has every right to investigate her and, where appropriate, bring her before a competent court,” the organisation said.
“But that is a separate issue from her allegations against the Police.”
The group argued that the Anambra State Police Command could not fairly investigate allegations of unlawful detention, bail extortion and improper seizure of property allegedly committed by its own officers.
It said the concern was heightened because the command had publicly denied the allegations and subsequently re-arrested the complainant.
RULAAC also said it received information suggesting that Jennifer was accused of having “betrayed” the police by making her complaint.
“A citizen does not betray the Police by reporting alleged police misconduct,” the organisation said.
The group further expressed concern over conflicting accounts surrounding the alleged N600,000 payment.
According to RULAAC, the police claimed that Jennifer subsequently denied, in the presence of her lawyer, that the money was demanded or collected.
The organisation said this contradicted what Jennifer had earlier communicated directly to it.
“We have not had further access to Jennifer to verify this claim,” RULAAC said, adding that it did not presume which of the conflicting accounts was true.
“That contradiction is precisely why an independent investigation is necessary,” it said.
RULAAC said that where a complainant makes allegations against police officers and subsequently changes her account after being re-arrested and while under police control, any purported recantation should be independently verified.
It said investigators must establish whether such a recantation was made freely and without intimidation, coercion, inducement or other undue influence.
The organisation therefore urged the IGP to remove the investigation of the misconduct allegations from the Anambra State Police Command and assign it to an independent team under Force Headquarters or another police formation with no prior involvement in the matter.
RULAAC said the investigation should include an examination of custody registers, investigation diaries, bail and release records, and documentation relating to Jennifer’s seized telephone.
It also called for the identification of all officers involved, examination of available CCTV footage, telephone records and relevant banking or electronic-transfer evidence capable of establishing whether money changed hands and, if so, who received it.
The organisation also urged the IGP to urgently establish Jennifer’s current whereabouts and the circumstances surrounding her detention.
Specifically, RULAAC asked: “Where is Jennifer presently being held? What specific offence is she accused of committing? Has she been brought before a court? Does she have free and confidential access to a lawyer of her choice? Does she have reasonable access to her family?”
The organisation stressed that its position was not intended to obstruct legitimate police investigations.
“If Jennifer committed an offence, let the evidence be presented and let the law take its course,” RULAAC said.
“If police officers extorted money, unlawfully detained her or retaliated against her for complaining, they too must face the law.”
RULAAC’s Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, said the police could not demand accountability from citizens while resisting accountability for their own officers.
“The Police cannot demand accountability from citizens while resisting accountability for their own officers,” Nwanguma said.
He added that an independent investigation would protect both the complainant and police officers who might have been wrongly accused.
“An independent investigation protects both sides: it protects the complainant if her allegations are true, and it protects wrongly accused police officers if the allegations are false,” he said.
Nwanguma urged the IGP to intervene urgently, stressing that accountability was essential to effective policing.
“Accountability does not obstruct policing. It gives policing legitimacy and public trust,” he said.
