A former commissioner in the cabinet of Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, Dr Fabian Ihekweme, has sued the Nigeria Police Force and the Imo State Commissioner of Police at the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged gross violations of his fundamental human rights.

Ihekweme is demanding N5 million in damages, alleging that he was arrested in a “Gestapo-style” manner by the police in Imo State.

The suit, marked FHC/ABI/CS/1809/2024, seeks an order of perpetual injunction restraining the police from further arresting, detaining, intimidating, or harassing him over what he described as “frivolous and unsubstantiated allegations.”

The plaintiff also seeks an order directing the defendants to either release him on bail pending investigation or charge him to court as stipulated in sections 35(4) and (5) and 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution.

Additionally, he is asking the court to declare that his arrest on November 28 in Abuja and subsequent detention in Owerri without access to his legal team violates his fundamental human rights.

Ihekweme contends that his arrest and detention were carried out in an intimidating and oppressive manner, constituting a breach of his rights to freedom of expression and fair trial.

He is also seeking a declaration that the actions of the police are unconstitutional and an award of N5 million as damages for harassment, assault, and illegal detention.

In an affidavit deposed to by Mrs Ihekweme Excel Fabian, the plaintiff’s wife, she stated that her husband is managing a severe health condition and that his continued detention without access to medical care poses a risk to his life.

She described the situation as “double jeopardy” and argued that he ought to have been granted administrative bail or charged to court within two days of his arrest, as provided by the constitution.

She further described the conduct of the police as arbitrary, oppressive, and unconstitutional, urging the court to intervene to safeguard her husband’s rights.