– Demand Public Apology, N10billion Damages
Dr Fabian Ihekweme, a former Commissioner for International Affairs in the Governor Hope Uzodinma administration, who was recently released after he was arrested in his Abuja residence and detained for 62 days by the Tiger Base unit of the state police command, allegedly, at the instance of the Governor, Hope Uzodinma, has threatened to initiate legal action if his demends are not met within 7 days. Ihekweme, is asking for public apology and monetary compensation of N10 billion, for the physical, psychological and emotional torture he was subjected to that have also projected him in bad light before the public.
Ihekweme, a vocal critic of the Uzodinma administration after they parted ways, in a letter dated February 20 2025 and addressed to Governor Uzodinma by his lawyer, Suleiman Usman (SAN) and Co, gave the Governor 7 days to meet his demands or he will initiate legal action against him.
The letter captioned, “NOTICE OF INTENTION TO COMMENCE LEGAL ACTION AGAINST YOU FOR DEFAMATION OF DR. FABIAN IHEKWEME”, reads in part, “We are legal representatives of Dr. Fabian Ihekweme (hereinafter referred to as “our client”), and on whose behalf and instruction we write this letter to you. Our client gave our chambers a brief the summary of which is as follows:
Our client has brought to our attention defamatory and malicious allegations made against him by you and/or your proxies on or about the 27th November, 2024, wherein you petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, falsely accusing him of being making seditious publication and inciting disturbance against the government of Imo State as a direct consequence of this false and malicious petition our client was arrested on the 27th November 2024 in a commando style operation in full public glare in his residence at no. 120 Efab Estate, Life Camp, Abuja, by unidentified armed security operatives without a warrant. During this unlawful arrest, he was forcefully handcuffed, intimidated, denied access to legal representation, and unlawfully transported by road from Abuja to Owerri under duress and against his will. One of your proxies, Commissioner for Transport Rex C. Anunobi (Sokom) who followed up with publication in the “Big Truth Newspaper” of Friday 29TH November, 2024 at Page 6 wherein the false allegations were maliciously published.
Furthermore, upon arrival at the Owerri State Police Command with our client in handcuffs, you personally placed a call to the officers handling our client’s detention, instructing them to take his photograph arid forward it to you-an order that was immediately carried out. Following this, our client was paraded publicly as a criminal, subjected to inhumane treatment, and illegally detained for sixty-two (62) days under degrading and life-threatening conditions.
During his unjust detention, our client suffered severe health complications and starvation, as he was deliberately denied access to adequate food, medical care, and legal counsel under your direct influence. This barbaric and oppressive treatment is a blatant violation of his fundamental human rights, as guaranteed under Sections 34, 35, 36, and 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), which safeguard the dignity of the human person, personal liberty, fair hearing, and freedom of movement. This was confirmed in a judgement of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja in Suit No. CV/5519/24 BETWEEN Dr. Fabian Ihekwere V. Inspector General of Police and Another delivered on 30th January 2025.
Ihekweme, who is said to have allowed himself to be used as willing tool to destabilize and scuttle the chances of Labour party (LP) in the 2023 election through his Big Tent project further said, “our client asserts that the allegations contained in your petition and publications were false, defamatory, and politically motivated, intended solely to silence his legitimate criticisms of your administration. Your actions tarnished his reputation, exposed him to public hatred, ridicule, and social ostracization, and inflicted severe emotional and psychological distress upon him and his family.
The defamatory statements, which were widely publicized and reinforced by media reports, have caused irreparable damage to our client’s personal and professional standing. The unwarranted humiliation and persecution he endured under your directive constitute a gross abuse of power and a willful disregard for the rule of law.
COURT RULING DECLARING ARREST AND DETENTION ILLEGAL
Following the violation of our client’s fundamental human rights, legal action was instituted on his behalf before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, in Suit No. CV/5519/24: DR. FABIAN IHEKWEME V. INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE & NIGERIA POLICE FORCE
In its ruling delivered on 30th January 2025, the Court declared the arrest and detention of Dr. Fabian Ihekweme illegal, unconstitutional, and a gross violation of his fundamental human rights. This judicial pronouncement reaffirms the unlawfulness of your actions and highlights the grave abuse of power that led to our client’s unjust suffering.
DEMANDS
In light of the foregoing, we hereby demand the following:
That you issue a formal, unreserved public apology to our client, which must be published in two (2) National Daily Newspapers within seven (7) days of receiving this notice.
That you pay the sum of N10,000,000,000.00 (10 Billion Naira) as compensation for the emotional trauma, reputational damage, and unlawful suffering inflicted on our client.
Failure to comply with these demands within seven (7) days from the receipt of this Notice shall compel us to commence legal proceedings against you without further recourse. This letter serves as a final warning before we initiate legal action to seek full redress for the unlawful defamation, illegal detention, and human rights violations suffered by our client.
We trust that you will treat this matter with the urgency and seriousness it demands”.
