Soludo urged to caution his adviser Emeakayi over alleged interference in police bail process
The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has called on Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo to address allegations that his Special Adviser on Community Security, Mr. Ken Emeakayi, interfered with the bail process involving Mr. Jude Nwoye Anokwu and others detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Awka.
RULAAC, in a statement issued on Friday, October 23, 2026, revealed that the police had directed the investigating officer to grant the detainees bail on October 21 and arrange a meeting between the parties, but the men remained in custody.
According to RULAAC, sources alleged that the investigating officer contacted Emeakayi while the bail process was underway, following which Emeakayi reportedly sent a text message challenging the police leadership’s decision.
RULAAC further alleged that the detainees were subsequently taken by police officers to Lion Building, where they were reportedly refused admission, before being returned to the State CID at about 1 a.m. on October 22.
RULAAC also said it had received reports that the men were kept handcuffed inside a bus during the movements, adding that the circumstances and duration of their alleged treatment required investigation.
The organisation called for an independent examination of the alleged text message, bail records, custody registers and movement records to establish what transpired.
The Executive Director of RULAAC, Okechukwu Nwanguma, said the authorities needed to clarify whether the detainees had been granted bail, whether they had fulfilled the conditions and who, if anyone, prevented their release.
He insisted that the Commissioner of Police must account for the circumstances surrounding the continued detention, adding that alleged pressure from a government official did not absolve the police of responsibility for decisions concerning the custody of suspects.
RULAAC urged Soludo to seek an immediate explanation from Emeakayi regarding his alleged involvement and direct him to refrain from interfering with the police bail process.
It also called on the governor to obtain a report from the Commissioner of Police on the bail decision, any outstanding conditions and the reasons for the continued detention.
The organisation said the detainees should be released without further obstruction if they had met the bail conditions.
It further urged the state Attorney-General to conduct an urgent review of the detention and the allegations underlying the case.
The group also called for the detainees to be granted access to their lawyers and families, as well as medical care where necessary. It stressed the need to preserve relevant communications and custody records.
In addition, RULAAC called for an independent investigation into the alleged interference, the reported overnight treatment of the detainees and the separately reported shooting and death of Mr. Chibuzo Nkam.
The organisation maintained that the underlying land dispute in Achalla, as well as any allegations of violence, should be investigated impartially.
It warned against using detention to pressure parties or witnesses, stressing that the release of suspects should not be made conditional on accepting a settlement or changing testimony.
RULAAC said the governor should ensure that no member of his administration used public office to influence detention in a private dispute, adding that any misconduct established through an investigation should attract appropriate accountability.
