RULAAC requested the IGP to intervene by directing the transfer of the case file from CSP Johnson and his cohort as ordered by court.
By Jeffrey Agbo
Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has written to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), asking him to intervene in the alleged illegal detention of a man named Chimezie Emenalom accused of killing his elder brother, Kenneth Emenalom, in Imo State.
The letter dated November 20, 2023 was signed by the executive director of RULAAC, Okechukwu Nwanguma, and copied to the chairman of Police Service Commission (PSC).
The letter reads, “Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) writes to bring to the attention of the IGP and to respectfully request his prompt intervention in the complaint of abuse of power, perversion of justice, persecution and unlawful detention of Mr. Chimezie Henry Emenalom, a native of Amaraku in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.
“RULAAC has been informed that on or about the 6th of August, 2023, Mr. Chimezie Henry Emenalom’s elder brother Kenneth Ikechukwu Emenalom died in a hospital after a brief illness.
“Medical report by the doctor in whose hospital he died stated that the deceased vomited blood before he gave up for which he suspected food poisoning.
“Unfortunately, the wife of the deceased Chikaodi Sylvester ran to her relation who is one CSP Johnson, Head of Assistant Inspector General of Police’s Monitoring Unit, Zone 9, Umuahia and connived with the said CSP Johnson to enter a complaint of murder against Mr. Chimezie Henry Emenalom and his siblings including those who are married and living with their husbands elsewhere as well as those living in Lagos and outside the country.
“On account of this unfounded allegation, CSP Johnson arrested and detained Mr. Chimezie Henry Emenalom from 15th September 2023 till 17th of November, 2023 (a period of over 2 months).
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“Autopsy was conducted on the body of the deceased by three pathologists and they were unanimous in their reports that the cause of death was cold and high blood pressure complications.
“CSP Johnson refused to act on the Report in his pursuit of vendetta against Mr. Chimezie Henry Emenalom and his siblings
“When Counsel to Mr Chimezie and his siblings (Equity Chambers, Owerri, Imo State) applied for their Client’s bail, CSP Johnson informed the law Chambers that notwithstanding the autopsy Report, he is going to arraign their client in order to cause him to be further detained.
“The law chambers complained to the office of the Attorney-General of Imo State who directed the DPP to exercise his powers in law to call for the case file and write an opinion with a view to determining whether there is a case of murder against their client or not.
“We are informed that the DPP, Imo State actually wrote the letter to the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 9, Umuahia and upon getting a hint of it, CSP Johnson on Friday 17th of November, 2023 rushed Mr. Chimezie to court without even informing him to arrange for legal representation or contact his relations.
“They, however, informed the nominal Complainant of the arrangement.
“When Mr. Chimezie’s lawyer intercepted the case in court and appeared for him, the Magistrates court refused him bail on the ground that he lacked the jurisdiction on a trumped-up Charge of murder.
“The Magistrate directed that the case file be transmitted to the DPP immediately so that the DPP could write an opinion and where there is a case of murder; file an information at the High Court without delay and to report back on the 5th of December, 2023. Unfortunately, CSP Johnson did not submit the case file as directed by the court but rather took the case file back to Zone 9 Umuahia, where he would influence junior officers in his office to do his bidding by arraigning the victim.”
RULAAC said it viewed the alleged conduct of CSP Johnson as amounting to abuse of power by unconscionably lending his police powers to aid his relative to persecute an innocent person over a false allegation.
“His action also obstructs the course of justice. CSP Johnson’s unprofessional conduct does further damage to the image and public perception of the police.
“RULAAC hereby requests the IGP to intervene by directing the transfer of the case file from CSP Johnson and his cohort as ordered by court.
“We also ask that the IGP orders an investigation into the role of CSP Johnson in this matter with a view to ensuring that appropriate sanctions are metted to him for abuse of office/pervasion of justice and illegal detention of Mr. Chimezie without good cause,” the letter added.