A Lagos State-based clergyman, Chima Michael Amechi, has called on the Inspector General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, to investigate alleged interference by a serving Police officer in a criminal case involving suspected cult activities in Ebonyi State.
Amechi, who is also a member of the Nigeria Legion in Lagos, said he raised the alarm over activities of suspected cult members allegedly terrorizing residents of Onueke and neighboring communities in the Ezza South Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The clergyman specifically named a Police officer attached to the Police Complaint Response Unit, CRU, at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, Igwe Godspower, accusing him of using his office to shield suspects whenever arrests are made.
According to Amechi, he became aware of the group after an incident in June last year while he was in his village to roof a building. He said a disagreement with his engineer led to his arrest by Police officers from the Ezza South Police Division, Onueke, over allegations of robbery.
He stated that the Divisional Police Officer ordered his release after confirming he was not in Ebonyi on the day of the alleged robbery. Amechi alleged that shortly after, he received a call from the DPO informing him that he was to be detained further following a directive from the CRU officer in Abuja.
The clergyman said operatives from the State Criminal Investigation Department’s Crack Squad later picked him up and held him for seven days. He claimed there was no formal petition against him at the unit and alleged he was subjected to torture during detention.
Amechi said he was later released after paying N100,000 for a phone tracking exercise to verify his whereabouts on the day of the incident. He added that he was not satisfied with the process and subsequently lodged a complaint at the Force Criminal Investigation Department, FCID, Annex in Enugu.
He said the Assistant Inspector General of Police at FCID Enugu ordered a full investigation, after which it was established that the allegation against him was false. The AIG reportedly directed that the complainant, identified as Uguru George, be arraigned.
Amechi alleged that before the arraignment could take place, the complainant filed another petition at the CRU in Abuja, leading to a request for the case file to be transferred to the Force Headquarters. He also said the complainant obtained a Fundamental Human Rights order from a court restraining the Police from arresting him.
The clergyman is now asking the IGP to direct the legal department of the Nigeria Police Force to take over the matter in court and ensure a proper investigation is carried out. He also requested the release of his vehicle and other items allegedly being kept at the Ebonyi State Police Command Headquarters.
Meanwhile, sources confirmed that the IGP has directed the IGP Monitoring Team to take over the matter for further investigation.
Community leaders in Ezza South have also called for increased security presence to address concerns about cult-related activities in the area.