Court Orders Arrest of Nigeria’s Police Boss

By Ehis Agbon, WorldNewsVine, Abuja

Abuja, Nigeria (August 31) – An Abuja High Court this morning issued a bench warrant for the arrest of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ogbonaya Onovo, for disobeying the orders of the court.

Justice Olukayode Adeniyi sitting in Maitama issued the warrant when hearing a case involving two policemen, Corporal Onyebuchi Eze and Corporal Kenneth Chikwe who were arrested in October 2009 and have been in detention for over 11 months without being arraigned before any court.

The court’s anger against the Police Boss stemmed from the disrespect of the court’s order directing the Police authority to release a Police Corporal, Corporal Onyebuchi Eze, who has been in detention for the past 11 months on unsubstantiated case of kidnapping and armed robbery.

Onyebuchi Eze, alongside 2 others were alleged by the Police to have been incriminated in an armed robbery and kidnapping case but had since remained in police detention without being arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction as provided by the law.

State Security Services (SSS) operatives arrested Mr. Eze, Corporal Keneth Chikwe and Mr. Austine Duru at Owerri, the Imo state capital on 7th October 2009 for allegedly being involved in armed robbery and kidnapping at Awka, the capital of a neighbouring state Anambra. The SSS operatives handed them over to the Imo state Police Command from where they were transferred to the Force Headquarters in Abuja for investigation and possible trial.

Corporal Eze and Corporal Chikwe were serving with the 29 PMF Squadron, Anambah state Police Command as at the time of the arrest while Mr. Duru is a businessman. Corporal Eze became critical ill in detention due to an acute appendicitis and required urgent medical attention, which the Nigerian Police denied him. Faced with the possibility of death, the sick detainee reached out to a human rights organization; International Human Rights Initiative, which took the case before Justice A. O. Adeniyi of the Abuja High Court.

The International Human Rights Initiative then applied for the enforcement of the accused persons’ fundamental human rights and for their bail to enable Corporal Eze to seek for urgent medical attention. After listening to their motion as canvassed by the accused persons lawyer; Mr. Asekome Oteiku, the court granted an order directing the Nigeria Police to release the accused persons on bail.

The Police IG and two other subordinates, the Commissioner of Police in-charge of Special Investigation Unit (SIU) and a Chief Superintendent of Police, Audu Abel, were alleged to have disobeyed the four different court orders served on them on 9th, 12th, 18th and 20^th of August 2010 for the bail of Corporal Eze,

Infuriated by the recalcitrant attitude of the Police Boss, Justice Adeniyi slammed the Police for their habitual disdain and disrespect to court orders. In addition, ordered all law enforcement agencies in the country to give effect to the arrest and committal to prison of Mr. Ogbonna Onovo; the Inspector General of Police, until he purges himself of the contempt to which he holds the honorable court.

Consequent upon failure by the police authorities to comply with the bail order, Justice Adeniyi on August 20, ordered Onovo to appear before him, to explain why the court’s order was not respected.

While issuing the bench warrant, Justice Adeniyi maintained, “Nobody, no matter how highly placed is permitted to hold the court to contempt. This should further show the world that law is no respecter of persons irrespective of position.

“I hereby order the arrest of the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ogbonaya Onovo for disobeying the orders of this honourable court and all law enforcement agencies are hereby directed to take notice of this order. He should be arrested and kept in prison custody until he purges himself of the contempt.” The case was adjourned until September 2.

By Ehis Agbon, WorldNewsVine, Abuja

Abuja, Nigeria (August 31) – An Abuja High Court this morning issued a bench warrant for the arrest of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ogbona Onovo, for disobeying the orders of the court.

Corporal Eze and Corporal Chikwe were serving with the 29 PMF Squadron, Anambra state Police Command as at the time of the arrest while Mr. Duru is a businessman. Corporal Eze became critical ill in detention due to an acute appendicitis and required urgent medical attention which the Nigerian Police denied him. Faced with the possibility of death, the sick detainee reached out to a human rights organization; International Human Rights Initiative, which took the case before Justice A. O. Adeniyi of the Abuja High Court.

Infuriated by the recalcitrant attitude of the Police Boss, Justice Adeniyi slammed the Police for their habitual disdain and disrespect to court orders and ordered all law enforcement agencies in the country to give effect to the arrest and committal to prison of Mr. Ogbonna Onovo; the Inspector General of Police, until he purges himself of the contempt to which he holds the honorable court.

While issuing the bench warrant, Justice Adeniyi maintained: “Nobody, no matter how highly placed is permitted to hold the court to contempt. This should further show the world that law is no respecter of persons irrespective of position.