-Seeks N10b Damages
Sequel to the abduction from his Abuja residence and subsequent detention for 62 days by the Imo State Police Command, allegedly at the instance of the governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma, Dr Fabian Ihekweme, a former Commissioner for Foreign Affairs in the former’s cabinet, has instituted legal action against Gov Uzodinma and the current Commissioner for Trade, Barr Rex Anunobi (Sokom) for allegedly facilitating his unlawful arrest and detention. This, they did, “ by falsely and maliciously accusing me of being a financier of the Eastern Security Network ESN, an organization alleged to be involved in terrorism activities and violence”.
Ihekweme, in a Statement of Claim in Suit No:FCT/HC/CV/………./2025 filed in the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, narrated how he was abducted at Abuja, transported to Owerri and detained in very humiliating and agonizing conditions for 62 days without access to family, friends and associates. He also narrated how he was starved and denied medication, resulting in severe health challenges thereafter.
The court process filed by his lawyer, states that, “The 1st Defendant, in furtherance of his malicious intent, caused a petition to be submitted to the Inspector-General of Police, Abuja, falsely alleging that the Claimant was involved in funding terrorism, despite having no credible evidence to support such an outrageous and baseless claim.
Relying on this false petition, on the 27th day of November 2024, some unidentified uniformed men, acting under the directive of the 1st Defendant, abducted the Claimant from his residence at Efab Estate, Life Camp, Abuja, without a valid warrant or legal justification.
The Claimant was forcefully handcuffed, intimidated, denied access to legal representation, and unlawfully transported by road from Abuja to Owerri under the instructions of the 1st and 2nd Defendants.
Upon arrival at the Owerri Command, the 1st Defendant personally contacted the police officers in charge of the detention and instructed them to take a photograph of the Claimant and send it to him. The officers complied immediately.
The Claimant was subjected to inhumane treatment, publicly paraded as a criminal, and unlawfully detained for a period of sixty-two (62) days in the Owerri Police Command without trial.
During his unlawful detention, the Claimant suffered severe health challenges due to prolonged incarceration, starvation, and denial of access to medical care, as his family members were not allowed to bring him food and essential medication.
The false and defamatory allegations propagated by the 1st and 2nd Defendants not only led to the unlawful detention of the Claimant but also caused irreparable damage to his reputation, personal integrity, and professional relationships and subjected him to public opprobrium.
The defamatory statements and allegations were also maliciously published in the Big Truth Newspapers of 29th November, 2024 at page 6 as an Advertorial by the 2nd Defendant.
As a direct consequence of the false malicious and defamatory statements made by the Defendants, the Claimant suffered as a result of the baseless and unfounded allegations seriously damaging his reputation.
