RULAAC, open society petition IGP over police officers’ interference in marital dispute, subjecting husband to multiple harassment
By Ishaya Ibrahim
The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) and the Open Society Justice Reforms Project have jointly petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, over the action of rogue officers who are ignoring at least four pending court cases to subject businessman Joseph Edeh to multiple harassment.
The harassment of the businessman was at the behest of Mrs. Gloria Edeh, his estranged wife who had earlier filed a court action to compel her husband to sell his aluminium company and split the money with her, according to the petition signed by Okechukwu Nwanguma of RULAAC and Sam Akpologun on behalf of Open Society.
Mrs. Edeh allegedly abandoned that case and procured the services of policemen who have been subjecting her husband to multiple invitations, detentions, and harassment.
In response, Mr. Edeh filed a court action and obtained an interlocutory order mandating all government agencies (including the Police) to maintain status quo pending the determination of the case. But despite the order, the police are not relenting in the harassment of Mr. Edeh.
According to the petition, a copy of which was sent to the Police Service Commission and National Human Rights Commission, the ongoing harassment, despite a subsisting order to maintain status quo ante, undermines public confidence in the police as a neutral and law-abiding institution.
The two CSOs urged the IGP to direct all officers to desist from further invitations, arrests, or detentions of Mr. Edeh.
The statement reads: “Open Society on Justice Reform Project (OSJRP) and the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) jointly write to draw your attention to a matter that raises serious concerns about abuse of police powers, interference with judicial processes, and violation of fundamental rights.
“We are monitoring with concern the case of Mr. Joseph Edeh, who has been subjected to repeated police invitations, detentions, and intimidation at the instance of his estranged wife, Mrs. Gloria Edeh, in respect of a domestic dispute currently pending before various courts of competent jurisdictions. The courts before which all relevant issues concerning Gloria Edeh, Joseph Edeh and the Nigeria Police Force are detailed below:
“SUIT NUMBER MIK/1138/2022: This is an originating motion brought by Ms Gloria Edeh asking the court to command Mr. Joseph Edeh to sell his Aluminum fabricating company and give her half the proceeds. The case is pending before the Honourable Magistrates Court of Lagos State siting at Ogba. Ms Gloria Edeh has since abandoned this case in the court and resorted to using the police to harass Mr. Joseph Edeh
“FHC/ABJ/CS/1591/2023:Joseph Edeh v. Inspector General of Police & 3 Ors. This is a fundamental right proceeding instituted on behalf of Joseph Edeh after multiple harassments by the Men of the police force at the behest of Gloria Edeh. This case is pending before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory. Parties have all entered appearance. The court has given an interlocutory order on 18th November 2024 for all government agencies (including the Police) to maintain status quo pending the determination of the case.
“ID/1439HD/2024 Gloria Edeh v. Joseph Edeh. This is a divorce proceedings incorporating all the grouses that Ms Gloria Edeh has against Mr. Joseph Edeh and praying the court to dissolve their marriage and share all his property equally with her. The case is Pending before the Honourable High Court of Lagos State, Ikeja. All parties have entered appearance and the case is now ripe for trial.
“FHC/E/CS/161/2023: This is a case instituted by Joseph Edeh to formally remove Ms. Gloria Edeh as director and shareholder of his company. Ms. Gloria Edeh is vehemently opposing this case in the said court and all the bases upon which she is instigating the police to persecute Mr. Joseph Edeh have all been presented before the court in this case. The court is seized with all the facts and allegations made against Mr. Edeh. It will therefore be abuse of court process and contempt of court for police to attempt to be handling such matters without court orders.
“All maters between Ms. Gloria Edeh and Mr. Joseph Edeh as we understand it, are already before the court, Abuja, and a clear order has been made directing all parties to maintain the status quo ante pending determination of the case. (A copy of the court’s order is enclosed for your reference.)
“Despite this, police officers—acting on the behest and instigations from Mrs. Edeh—have continued to invite and detain Mr. Edeh several times over the same subject matter. Most disturbingly, the latest invitation purports to allege perjury against him, even though the alleged acts form part of the ongoing judicial proceedings. We wish to emphasize that issues of perjury arising from proceedings before a court fall strictly within the competence of the court, not the police. Any police intervention in such a matter amounts to interference with the due administration of justice and a violation of the constitutional separation of powers.
“Our organizations have also confirmed that: Mr. Edeh has been invited and detained multiple times in connection with the same dispute; His business bank account has been frozen, causing grave economic hardship and loss of livelihood; and, the ongoing harassment, despite a subsisting order to maintain status quo ante, undermines public confidence in the police as a neutral and law-abiding institution.
“Sir, we must respectfully but firmly state that continuing to act on these petitions and the continuous invitation of Mr. Joseph Edeh constitutes not only a breach of his fundamental rights but a breach of the court’s authority and an abuse of police powers. The Nigeria Police Force has a constitutional obligation to protect the rights of citizens and to refrain from being used as a tool for personal vendettas or to overreach judicial processes.
“We therefore call on your good office to: Immediately direct all officers involved to desist from further invitations, arrests, or detentions of Mr. Edeh on this matter; Ensure compliance with the subsisting court order to maintain the status quo ante pending determination of the case; and Investigate and discipline any officers found to be complicit in this misuse of police powers.
“Our organizations are committed to supporting the Nigeria Police Force in upholding the rule of law, accountability, and justice. However, this situation—if not urgently addressed—will continue to erode public trust and confidence in the institution. We trust in your prompt and decisive intervention to uphold justice and the rule of law.”
