Lawyer Petitions IGP Over Continued Detention Despite Court Release Order

A legal practitioner, Edeh Uchenna has petitioned the inspector-general of police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu over the continued detention of Mr. Godwin Francis Akpan despite an order of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory directing his immediate release.

This is coming barely two weeks after another lawyer, Onyekaalam O. Allionnwu, had petitioned the inspector-general of police (IGP), alleging prolonged detention of an Anambra State-based businessman, Mr Okechukwu Ugenyi. See here: https://leadership.ng/lawyer-petitions-igp-over-intimidation-detention-of-anambra-businessman/

In the petition dated September 24, 2026, the lawyer urged the Nigeria Police Force to comply with the order of the FCT High Court in Suit No. CV/4013/26, issued on September 17, 2026, directing that Akpan be released from police custody.

According to the lawyer, Akpan’s detention arose from a police investigation connected to a dispute between his employer and another company, which he described as essentially commercial and civil in nature.

The petition stated that although Akpan was being held in connection with allegations of criminal conduct, he had not been charged before a court.

The lawyer, however, acknowledged the statutory powers of the police to investigate alleged offences, stressing that such powers must be exercised within the framework of due process, individual liberty and respect for judicial authority.

He argued that a subsisting court order remains binding until it is lawfully set aside, varied or stayed by a competent court.

The petition therefore called for the immediate implementation of the FCT High Court’s release order, while urging the police to pursue any outstanding investigative issues through lawful and transparent procedures.

The lawyer stressed that the petition was not intended to prevent the police from investigating the allegations against his client.

“We are not seeking immunity from investigation,” the petition stated, adding that it was also not asking any institution to determine the merits of the underlying commercial dispute outside the appropriate forum.

Rather, the lawyer argued that investigation and due process should coexist, insisting that an individual’s liberty should not become collateral to a commercial disagreement and that a subsisting order of a competent court should receive the obedience and respect required by law.

The petition further urged the police and relevant institutions to respect the constitutional and legal rights of Akpan and other persons affected by the matter.

It said the police could continue with any lawful investigation, while the courts should determine issues properly brought before them and relevant oversight institutions could examine complaints within their respective mandates.

The lawyer also referenced the roles of the Police Service Commission and the Public Complaints Commission, saying the former provides mechanisms for addressing complaints concerning police conduct, while the latter has a mandate relating to administrative excesses and non-adherence to procedures.

He urged the relevant authorities to use their offices to facilitate compliance with the court order, de-escalate the situation and promote an orderly resolution of the outstanding issues.

The petition was copied to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory; Governor of Abia State; Chief Judge, High Court of the FCT; President, Nigerian Bar Association; Chairman, Police Service Commission; Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission; Chief Commissioner, Public Complaints Commission; Chairmen of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, FCT and Abia State Councils; and Chairman, National Association of Judicial Correspondents.

The lawyer said the matter extended beyond Akpan’s individual circumstances, raising broader issues concerning individual liberty, policing, judicial authority, professional accountability, access to justice and public confidence in state institutions.

He appealed for the investigation, where legally required, to continue, while ensuring that all parties were heard and their rights protected.

The petition concluded with a call for the court’s order to be respected, with the lawyer requesting the IGP’s urgent intervention.