Mrs. Excel Ihekweme, the spouse of former Imo Commissioner for Foreign and International Affairs, Dr. Fabian Ihekweme, has submitted a petition to President Bola Tinubu regarding the alleged unlawful arrest and detention of her husband. In two letters dated December 13, written on her behalf by the rights organization Initiative Against Human Right Abuse & Torture, she also requested the intervention of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Ihekweme served as a commissioner during the first term of Governor Hope Uzodinma in Imo State. The petitions were signed by Comrade Gerald Katchy, the Executive Director of the rights group, on behalf of Excel.
The letters were titled: “Complaint of Abuse of Power and Office by Security and Enforcement Agencies and Disregard for the Rule of Law: A Menace to the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency.” Excel claimed that her husband was forcibly arrested on November 27 at their Abuja home by police officers without an arrest warrant and has been in detention since then. She stated that her husband’s troubles began when he urged the governor to focus on the citizens’ needs and fulfill his campaign promises. This call for accountability, according to her, unfortunately led to his persecution.
In two additional letters that she personally signed, addressed to the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Excel also sought their assistance.
She expressed her urgent need for intervention in what she described as a serious violation of her husband’s fundamental rights as a Nigerian citizen, as well as an action by the police that contravenes the rule of law, the Nigerian constitution, and the justice system within the Nigeria Police Force.
“On November 27, unidentified armed individuals forcibly abducted Dr. Ihekweme from his residence without a warrant, due process, or access to legal counsel. His phone was taken, and he was denied essential medical care. For over 24 hours, his family was unaware of his location until the police released a statement confirming his detention.
“Currently, Dr. Fabian Ihekweme is being held at the notorious Tiger Base police unit, where he is subjected to inhumane treatment and falsely accused of sponsoring the Eastern Security Network (ESN)—a groundless allegation intended to tarnish his reputation and silence him.
“This ordeal has caused trauma and mental distress to his family, including his children. His arrest and detention without due process or medical attention not only violate his constitutional rights but also represent a serious affront to democracy, freedom of expression, and good governance,” she stated in the petitions.
Read also: “People might not be fond of us, but circumstances are shifting –Tinubu
Excel is therefore requesting her husband’s immediate and unconditional release and the assurance that his rights to due process, legal representation, and medical care are respected. She also called for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his arrest, detention, and the allegations against him, as well as measures to protect citizens’ rights to freedom of expression and to ensure that no one is persecuted for holding leaders accountable or advocating for good governance. (NAN)
