THE STATE OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN NIGERIA 2005 - UNDP Nigeria ...

Moments after Patrick died, a senior police officer informed the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Mr F.Jamale that a robbery suspect who was arrested for trying to disarm a police officer, had died whilebeing taken to the hospital, apparently referring to Patrick. This claim was later disproved by the DPOafter investigation. On the order of the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ekpoudom, the perpetrators werearrested and detained in Asaba.On April 6, 2006, a 67 year old man, Chief Clifford Nmegbu of Omulele, Igwuruta, Rivers Statewas abducted at the market square by Tuesday Emmanuel Owhunda, Innocent Nmegbu andIsaac Nchelem Emmanuel. They took him to their house, tied his hands behind his back andsubjected him to severe and brutal beating, which led him to suffer serious bodily injury. He becameunconscious. Presuming him dead, his assailants threw him into the booth of a navy blue Volvo car withregistration number Rivers AG 860 ANB and took him to Igwuruta police station. On regainingconsciousness, he was rushed to Dominion Mandate Hospital, Omunobo at Igwuruta by SergeantChristian and Corporal Williams. He was later relocated to Pamax Hospital, Isiokpo.On April 25, 2006, while still on admission, another attempt was made to abduct Clifford Nmegbu withthe connivance of some policemen from Igwuruta police station who used the same Volvo car. With theintervention of the hospital management,Mr Nmegbu was secretly moved to Onitsha, Anambra State fortreatment and protection. On May 9, 2006, Clifford Nmegbu’s younger brother, Bernard Nmegbu whohad been hiding in fear over the incident, returned home and, was killed on May 12 2006 by unknownpersons who were believed to be working for Emmanuel Owhunda.Clifford Nmegbu’s Solicitor, Ken Aswete, wrote a petition to the Rivers State Police Commissionerdated June 1, 2006. The Commissioner instructed the DPO of Igwuruta to investigate the murder but noinvestigation was carried out. Rather than investigating the petition, the DPO accused PrincewillAzubike, 15, Evans Azubike, 16 and Rex Azunda, 20, all children of Clifford Nmegbu of destroying theproperty of Emmanuel Owhunda, Innocent Nmegbu and Isaac Nchelem Emmanuel, in retaliation for thedeath of their father. They were subsequently arrested, detained and charged to Magistrate’s Court,Igwuruta for willful destruction of property.Wilfred, another brother of Clifford Nmegbu was stabbed on June 16, 2006 and told by hisassailants:“Clifford will be eliminated whenever he is found”. Thereafter, Clifford consulted a humanrights lawyer. While in the lawyer’s office, five heavily armed police men from Olu Obasanjo PoliceStation, Port­Harcourt, in the company of Emmanuel Owhunda, stormed the lawyer’s office andarrested Clifford along with his Personal Assistant, Juliana Uzuoma. Subsequently they were taken toIgwuruta Police Station where they were detained for a day before they were granted bail.However, on July 5, 2006, the Commissioner of Police directed that an autopsy be carried out on thecorpse of Bernard Nmegbu. The outcome of police investigations is still being awaited as at the time ofthis report.On July 14, 2006, Friday Omakoji Abu, adult, male, legal practitioner based in Abuja, went to theCorporate Affairs Commission (CAC) located at Zone 5 Abuja to transact business. Whilemaking payment at Zenith Bank within the premises of CAC, he noticed three people at thelobby of the bank arguing. On inquiry, Friday was informed by one of the three persons that operativesof the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) were in the bank to arrest an employee ofthe CAC. The employee pleaded for them to wait for his superior officer. Friday intervened and askedthem to wait for the superior officer as requested. This advice seemed to infuriate one of the operativeswho demanded to know Friday’s identity. Upon identifying himself as a practicing lawyer, Friday was9