The South-South Zone of the Civil Liberties Organization (CLO) has condemned, in very strong terms, the arbitrary arrest, humiliation, brutality, torture, and illegal detention without trial of citizen, Jeff Ikechi, by police operatives attached to the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID), Abuja, allegedly at the orders of one Mr Dandyson Onuah of Ubima in Ikwerri Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The regional body of CLO accused the police of callousness, impunity and lawlessness, saying that the matter under which the arrest was effected was purely a civil case, and his brazen detention for days without trial a tacit violation of Ikechi’s fundamental rights.
A petition signed by the South-South Zonal Chairman of CLO, Kal Chinedu Uchegbu and the Zonal Director, Obodoekwe Steven, and addressed to the Inspector General of Police, the DIG, Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (FCIID), Abuja, Anthony Ogbizi; and AIG Force CIID, Abuja, Murtala Usman; reads, “The attention of the South-South Zone of the Civil Liberties Organization (CLO) has been drawn to an arbitrary arrest, humiliation, police brutality, torture, illegal detention without trial of citizen, Jeff Ikechi, by police men from the Federal Criminal Investigations Department (FCID), Abuja, allegedly executed under the direction of one Mr Dandyson Onuah of Ubima, Ikwerri Local Government Area of Rivers State.
“Ikechi, a legal practitioner, who also hails from Ubima, was arrested in Gestapo-style in Port Harcourt on Monday, February 17, 2020 by policemen from FCID, Abuja.
“He was whisked away to Abuja from Port Harcourt same day and has since then remained incommunicado in police detention.
“We fear that he may be subjected to cruel and sub-human treatments as he is denied access to his family members, lawyers and others.
“We are also worried for his safety as the said Mr Dandyson was said to have boasted that Ikechi Jeff will either back out from his position as the community liaison officer, CLO/family representative of All Grace Energy Limited/Western Ord Oil and Gas Limited, an oil servicing joint venture operating in their community or be killed.
“He is said to be subjected to torture, cruel and inhuman treatment by the police in a desperate bid to force him to relinquish the position of CLO/family representative of the aforementioned All Grace Energy Limited/Western Ord Oil and Gas Limited, a position assigned to him by his community.
“The officers who partook in the illegal arrest include Mr Joseph with phone number, 07031288107 and Mr Emmanuel with phone number, 07068777115
“According to information at the disposal of this organization, the said Dandyson Onuah was said to have resorted to the use of policemen to hunt, terrorize and torment Jeff for daring to accept to serve as the CLO/community representative of the company, a position given to him by his community when Dandyson was removed by the family as a result of alleged corruption and embezzlement.
“Jeff was first arrested on September 11 and detained at Ubima Police Division on a trumped up charge of cultism. He was moved to the notorious SARS at Rukpokwu on September 12 and to SCID on September 13, 2019. He was later released on the orders of the Deputy Commissioner of Police when it was found out that he was wrongly accused.
“It was also gathered that after his release, Policemen from Abuja stormed Port Harcourt and whisked him away to Abuja on trumped up charge of forging the signatures of his family members who sent a letter to the company removing Dandyson as the CLO.

Susan Serekara-Nwikhana