The Officer in Charge of the Imo State Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit, a certain ‘SP Ola’, is detaining Obinna Orji, a 43-year-old businessman, without presenting him before a court.
Ola arrested Orji on November 16, 2024 on allegations of car theft, and the continued detention has spanned eight months without trial. Efforts to get Ola to respect Orji’s rights have fallen on deaf ears as the policeman boasts he is superior to any policeman and can flout any orders.
Precious Orji, the detainee’s sister, narrated to journalists how Obinna bought a vehicle from a salesman. This purchase later proved problematic, as the police tracked the vehicle and informed the businessman that it was a stolen car.
“He gave the police the vehicle, but they arrested him and the people who sold the vehicle to him,” Precious told FIJ. “As the case dragged on, I later asked about the people who sold the car to my brother, and a policeman said something that suggested they released one and killed the rest.”
Months passed, and there was no court appearance or bail. Frustrated by this development, Precious approached a magistrates’ court in Owerri, the state capital.
She prayed the court to compel the Tiger Base Squad to produce her brother before the court and admit him to bail.
“After I went to court, Ola and other policemen mocked me and said, ‘She has spoilt the case. Something wey we suppose settle for here, she carry am go court‘”.
Defiantly, the police refused to honour the court summons and held on to Orji, leaving Precious devastated. While her brother was based in Imo State, she lived in Enugu, and had to endure frequent interstate travels to follow up with the case for months.
On June 24, FIJ called Henry Okoye, the Imo Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), but he did not take the calls. FIJ also sent a message to him, but as of press time, he had not responded.
(FIJ)
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