The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has formally petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, demanding a comprehensive and independent investigation into the controversial death of Nnamdi Chidi in the Agunese Mmaku Community of Enugu State.
In a statement released on December 24, 2024, RULAAC Executive Director Okechukwu Nwanguma emphasised that the intervention is driven by a need to restore public confidence in the criminal justice system.
The advocacy group noted that Chidi, an indigene of Nsukka whose mother hails from Agunese Mmaku, died under circumstances that have since sparked a volatile dispute involving community factions and various police units.
The case is currently defined by two mutually exclusive narratives that have polarised the local community. One side alleges that Chidi succumbed to fatal injuries sustained during a violent incident linked to a police investigation, claiming that an initial autopsy supported a homicide case before subsequent police interventions allegedly compromised the probe.
Conversely, a counter-narrative suggests that Chidi died of natural causes related to a pre-existing medical condition. This version of events claims that allegations of assault are fabricated and that certain media reports and documents have been forged to mislead the public.
RULAAC expressed deep concern over these conflicting accounts, noting that the situation has escalated into a crisis of trust. The organisation highlighted that allegations of bribery, intimidation, and the abuse of police authority are currently undermining the reputation of the Nigeria Police Force.
According to the petition, the circulation of these disputed claims without an authoritative resolution risks inflaming communal tensions and endangering potential witnesses.
Citing the 1999 Constitution and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, RULAAC reminded the authorities of the state’s duty to conduct impartial investigations into all suspicious deaths. The group is calling on the Inspector-General to authorise a fresh probe that is entirely distinct from previous contested processes.
This request includes a demand for a professional forensic review of all medical records and the authentication of audio-visual materials currently in circulation.
The petition further urges the police high command to guarantee the safety of witnesses and to review the procedural compliance of all units previously involved in the matter.
RULAAC maintained that justice must be established through credible evidence rather than competing public recriminations, asserting that a transparent resolution is the only way to prevent further communal instability and uphold Nigeria’s international human rights obligations.
