RULAAC Calls On IGP To Order Independent Investigation Into Anambra Police Extortion Allegation, Re-arrest Of Complainant

RULAAC has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu over the troubling case of Ms Nwosu Chikamso Jennifer, who alleged that she was detained for four days by operatives of the Anambra State Police Command, that ₦600,000 was paid in connection with securing her release, and that her mobile phone was seized and retained.
The Anambra State Police Command has categorically denied collecting ₦600,000. It has also stated that Jennifer was arrested because investigators established communication between her and a suspect wanted in connection with a killing and suspected that she assisted him to evade arrest.
RULAAC is not asking that Jennifer be shielded from investigation.
If there is credible evidence that she committed an offence, the Nigeria Police Force has every right to investigate her and, where appropriate, bring her before a competent court.
But that is a separate issue from her allegations against the Police.
The Anambra State Police Command cannot fairly investigate allegations of unlawful detention, bail extortion and improper seizure of property made against its own officers—particularly after publicly denying those allegations and subsequently re-arresting the complainant.
The situation became even more concerning after RULAAC received information suggesting that Jennifer was accused of having “betrayed” the Police by making her complaint.
A citizen does not betray the Police by reporting alleged police misconduct.
There are now also conflicting accounts concerning the alleged ₦600,000 payment. The police claimed that Jennifer subsequently denied, in the presence of her lawyer, that the money was demanded or collected, contrary to what she had earlier communicated directly to RULAAC. We have not had further access to Jennifer to verify this claim.
We do not presume which account is true.
That contradiction is precisely why an independent investigation is necessary.
Where a complainant makes allegations against police officers and subsequently changes her account after being re-arrested and while under police control, any purported recantation should be independently verified to establish that it was made freely and without intimidation, coercion, inducement or other undue influence.
RULAAC has therefore asked the Inspector-General of Police to remove the investigation of the misconduct allegations from the Anambra State Police Command and assign it to an independent team under Force Headquarters or another formation with no prior involvement in the matter.
The investigation should preserve and examine the custody registers, investigation diary, bail and release records, documentation relating to Jennifer’s seized telephone, identities of officers involved, available CCTV footage, telephone records and relevant banking or electronic-transfer evidence capable of establishing whether money changed hands and, if so, who received it.
We have also asked the IGP to urgently establish:
Where is Jennifer presently being held?
What specific offence is she accused of committing?
Has she been brought before a court?
Does she have free and confidential access to a lawyer of her choice?
Does she have reasonable access to her family?
If Jennifer committed an offence, let the evidence be presented and let the law take its course.
If police officers extorted money, unlawfully detained her or retaliated against her for complaining, they too must face the law.
The Police cannot demand accountability from citizens while resisting accountability for their own officers.
An independent investigation protects both sides: it protects the complainant if her allegations are true, and it protects wrongly accused police officers if the allegations are false.
That is why RULAAC has asked the Inspector-General of Police to intervene urgently.
Accountability does not obstruct policing. It gives policing legitimacy and public trust.
Okechukwu Nwanguma
Executive Director
Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC)