The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has called on the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice to expedite the prosecution of officers implicated in the alleged enforced disappearance of Mr John Chukwuemeka Anozie, following the Nigeria Police Force’s reported compliance with a Federal High Court order.
In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, RULAAC welcomed the Inspector-General of Police’s reported transmission of the investigation file, legal advice and investigation report to the AGF in line with the court’s judgment.
The development was disclosed during proceedings on 24 July 2026 before the Federal High Court in Abuja in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/865/2025: Engr. Nnenna Anozie v. Inspector-General of Police. According to the applicant’s counsel, Vincent Adodo, counsel to the Inspector-General informed the court that a Notice of Compliance had been filed, confirming that the case file had been forwarded to the Attorney General.
RULAAC described the compliance as an important, though overdue, milestone in a case it said had become symbolic of enforced disappearance, police impunity and delayed justice in Nigeria.
John Chukwuemeka Anozie was allegedly abducted from his residence in Lekki, Lagos, on 15 June 2017 by operatives of the now-disbanded Awkuzu SARS Unit. More than nine years later, his whereabouts remain unknown.
The organisation commended the Federal High Court for ensuring compliance with its orders and praised Anozie’s wife, Mrs Nnenna Anozie, for her persistence in seeking justice despite years of delay.
However, RULAAC stressed that forwarding the investigation file was only one aspect of the court’s judgment and urged the Attorney General to promptly review the investigation report and legal advice, prosecute all officers indicted in the case without delay, ensure no suspect is shielded from accountability regardless of rank, and keep the victim’s family informed throughout the prosecution process.
The group also urged the Inspector-General of Police to comply with the remaining court orders by providing Mrs Anozie with a Certified True Copy of the duplicate investigation file, arresting and handing over all indicted officers to the Attorney General for prosecution, and complying with the court’s order awarding damages to the applicant.
RULAAC described the case as a critical test of Nigeria’s commitment to the rule of law, constitutional governance and its obligations under domestic and international law to investigate enforced disappearances and hold perpetrators accountable.
The organisation pledged to continue monitoring the case and working with Mrs Anozie, her legal team and civil society partners to ensure the matter is prosecuted and justice is served.
