Mrs. Excel Ihekweme, wife of Dr. Fabian Ihekweme, a former Commissioner for Foreign and International Affairs in Imo State, has called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene in what she alleges is the unlawful arrest and detention of her husband by the Nigerian Police Force (NPF).
In two petitions dated December 13, 2024, Mrs. Ihekweme, through the Initiative Against Human Rights Abuse & Torture, also sought the intervention of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN). The petitions, signed by the rights group’s Executive Director, Comrade Gerald Katchy, were titled “Complaint of Abuse of Power and Office by Security and Enforcement Agencies and Disregard to the Rule of Law: A Menace to the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency.”
According to Mrs. Ihekweme, her husband was forcefully arrested at his Abuja residence on November 27 by armed police officers who allegedly did not present an arrest warrant. Since then, he has been detained without access to legal counsel or adequate medical care, with no formal charges brought against him.
In separate letters personally addressed to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mrs. Ihekweme expressed her dismay over the alleged misconduct by the police in handling her husband’s case.
Mrs. Ihekweme linked her husband’s arrest to his public criticism of Governor Hope Uzodinma’s administration in Imo State. She claimed her husband had urged the governor to prioritize citizens’ needs and fulfill campaign promises, a stance she believes led to his persecution.
The former commissioner is reportedly being held at the Tiger Base police unit, where he has been accused of sponsoring the Eastern Security Network (ESN). Allegation Mrs Ihekweme described as “baseless” and aimed at discrediting his integrity.
“Unidentified armed men forcefully abducted Dr. Ihekweme from his home without due process or access to legal counsel. His phone was confiscated, and he was denied necessary medical care,” she wrote.
“For over 24 hours, his family had no knowledge of his whereabouts until the police confirmed his detention. This ordeal has left his family, including his children, traumatised and mentally distressed.”
Mrs. Ihekweme appealed for her husband’s immediate and unconditional release, emphasizing his constitutional rights to due process, legal representation, and medical care. She also called for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his arrest and detention.
She further urged the authorities to protect citizens’ rights to freedom of expression, warning against the silencing of individuals advocating for good governance and accountability.
Dr. Fabian Ihekweme, who served as a commissioner during Governor Uzodinma’s first tenure, has become the latest high-profile figure to face allegations of being linked to the ESN, an armed group often associated with the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
