By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
The 22-year-old Gloria Okolie has regained her freedom from rogue police operatives who held her for 70 days and used her as their slave. The policemen, attached to the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in Imo, are, however, walking free for violating the dignity of a Nigerian.
A High Court sitting in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja on Friday, August 27, ordered the Nigeria Police Force to charge Gloria Okolie to court on or before August 31, 2021, or grant her bail in the sum of N2m with a Level 12 officer acting as her bond.
A human rights campaigner and director-general, Behind Bars Initiative, Harrison Gwamnishu, and other activists had dragged the police to court to respect the fundamental rights to freedom of the 22-year-old.
The IRT had claimed that she was a spy for the Eastern Security Network (ESN). They, however, used her detention to exploit her body and family members of money, according to court filings.
Gloria’s uncle, Christian Okolie, had said her captives extorted N280,000 in bribes so far and demanded an additional N100,000 to free the young lady.
Her family had also alleged that she was used as a maid and sex slave by the officers while in custody.
But the Police in a statement had claimed Okolie was a spy for IPOB/ESN but showed no proof by arraigning her in court, a reason the National Human Rights Commission and many human rights groups demanded her immediate release or be charged to court where her rights can be enforced.