Our Reporter, Abuja
The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has petitioned the Police Service Commission (PSC), demanding disciplinary and criminal action against some police officers accused of unlawful arrest, prolonged detention, extortion, and fabricating terrorism charges against one Mr. Eme Alfred Friday.
In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, on Friday, RULAAC described the case as a “brazen abuse of power and criminalization of innocent citizens,” urging the PSC to ensure accountability and justice.
According to the group, Mr. Friday was arrested without a warrant on June 26, 2025, by officers led by Supol John Ilia in Lagos. He was reportedly held incommunicado at Area B Command, Apapa, before being transferred to the Anti-Kidnapping Squad (AKS) in Enugu, under the command of Supol Chuks Odumu.
“For weeks, his family was denied access to him, while officers extorted money and issued threats,” the statement alleged.
RULAAC further revealed that after more than a month in unlawful detention, Mr. Friday was arraigned on August 4, 2025, before a Magistrate Court in Enugu on terrorism charges under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The rights group claimed that the so-called confession used against him was authored by the AKS Commander and extracted under duress. It added that the only financial transaction cited as “evidence” was ₦7,500 sent by Mr. Friday to a local carpenter—a gesture it said was merely an act of goodwill, not terrorism financing.
The group also accused the officers of intimidating Mr. Friday’s family for petitioning and seeking legal redress. According to RULAAC, the AKS Commander allegedly warned the family that unless they withdrew their petitions, their brother would remain in custody and could be charged with “any offence they chose.”
RULAAC’s Demands
The organisation called on the PSC to:
- Investigate and hold accountable the officers involved, including Supol John Ilia, Supol Chuks Odumu, and DC Obiora Okonkwo of Zone 2, Lagos.
- Recommend disciplinary and criminal action against those culpable of extortion, fabrication of evidence, unlawful detention, and abuse of office.
- Review the terrorism charges against Mr. Friday, which it described as “clearly fabricated and coerced.”
- Guarantee the safety of Mr. Friday, his family, and their legal representatives.
RULAAC stressed that cases like this highlight how rogue police officers exploit security laws for personal enrichment, thereby eroding public trust in law enforcement.
“If such abuses go unchecked, innocent Nigerians will continue to live in fear of the very institution that is supposed to protect them,” the group warned, vowing to continue monitoring the case while engaging civil society, the media, and the international community until justice is served.
