The family of Nnamdi Daniel Emeh, a former member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has accused the Nigeria Police Force of orchestrating what they describe as a prolonged and unjust detention of the young ICT expert.
In a detailed statement released by his father, Prof. John Kanu Emeh, the family claimed that Nnamdi has remained in custody since March 3, 2023, following events that began earlier that year.
According to the statement, the matter began in January 2023 when intelligence allegedly intercepted by the Nigeria Police Force from Istanbul, Turkey, revealed a plan to transport hand-propelled grenades to a suspect identified as Chibuike Ekwueme in Anambra State.
The shipment was allegedly intended for members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), which authorities consider an affiliate of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Police headquarters reportedly placed the suspect under surveillance and later alerted the Anambra State Police Command after he returned to Nigeria to take delivery of the shipment.
According to the family, the police command enlisted the assistance of Nnamdi Daniel Emeh, then serving as an NYSC member and described as an ICT specialist, to help track the suspect’s communications and movements.
The operation reportedly led to the arrest of Chibuike Ekwueme by a combined team that included officers of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in Awkuzu, personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS), and other security agencies.
Ekwueme was subsequently arraigned before the Federal High Court in Awka on terrorism-related charges.
The family claims that the then Commissioner of Police in the state, Echeng Echeng, commended Emeh’s role in the operation and allegedly rewarded him with ₦50,000.
However, the situation reportedly took a dramatic turn toward the end of February 2023 when the Anambra State Police Command declared Emeh wanted.
According to his father, the police accused him of masterminding a social media publication that allegedly exposed abuses committed by officers of the Rapid Response Squad in Awkuzu, which was previously associated with the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
The unit was reportedly under the leadership of Chief Superintendent of Police Patrick Agbazue.
Emeh denied the allegation, his family said, but feared for his safety after being declared wanted. The family stated that he fled to Cotonou in the Benin Republic before being repatriated to Nigeria on March 3, 2023.
Following his return, Emeh was reportedly detained at the Force Criminal Investigation Department in Abuja before being transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Awka, Anambra State.
His father alleged that during the period of detention, Emeh was invited to a midnight meeting on April 23, 2023, with the Commissioner of Police, Echeng Echeng, to discuss his case.
According to the family, Emeh declined the meeting, citing concerns for his safety. They further alleged that after refusing the meeting, he was subjected to various forms of intimidation, including being paraded alongside suspected kidnappers, armed robbers and other criminal suspects.
On May 11, 2023, Emeh was arraigned before the Federal High Court in Awka on a 12-count charge.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was subsequently remanded at the Awka Correctional Centre.
Six days later, on May 17, 2023, the late Justice F. O. Riman granted him bail.
According to the statement from the family, the judge noted in open court that he had received multiple calls urging him to deny the defendant bail but chose to grant it because the charges were bailable.
Despite the court order, the family alleges that attempts to meet the bail conditions have repeatedly been obstructed.
They also claimed that a panel of inquiry reportedly set up in 2023 by the then Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, to investigate the matter has yet to make its findings public.
The family maintains that Emeh’s continued detention represents a miscarriage of justice and has called on authorities to ensure a transparent review of the case.
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigeria Police Force has not publicly responded to the allegations made by the family.
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