The Lawyers in Defense of Democracy and Human Rights have called upon the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to intervene in the alleged unlawful detention of banker Chinenye Duru since December 11 of the previous year.
Duru, employed by Polaris Bank, was reportedly arrested and detained by the police in Abuja based on a petition filed by the founder of Living Christ Mission, Rev Victor Obiajunwa Onukaogu, widely known as “Daddy Hezekiah.”
Although the order for Duru’s detention, issued on December 22, 2023, was voided by a Nasarawa State Chief Magistrate Abdulsalam Abubakar on January 3, 2024, and a Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Donatus Okorowo, ordered the immediate release of the detainee on January 5, 2024, both directives have reportedly not been adhered to.
The lawyers, operating under the banner of “Lawyers in Defense of Democracy and Human Rights,” demanded the immediate release of the detainee or, alternatively, the filing of charges against him in a court of law if he had committed any offense.
During a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, Barrister Okere Kingdom Nnamdi, the spokesperson for the lawyers, criticized the detention of the banker, asserting that it was in blatant disobedience to lawful court orders and a violation of the banker’s fundamental rights under sections 4, 5, and 6 of the 1999 Constitution.
The lawyers contended that the detained banker had served as an account officer to the church founder and engaged in several business transactions before their relationship soured. They mentioned that the church founder, having failed to obtain desired results from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), subsequently sought the assistance of the police through a retired Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG).
Alleging that the police at Zone 4 have acted as debt recovery officers for the petitioner, the lawyers claimed that the unlawful detention and denial of bail to the bank worker began on December 11 of the previous year. They emphasized that the magistrate court order for detention had been nullified, while the Federal High Court’s order for release had not been respected by the police.
Stating that the dispute between the banker and the church founder revolved around spiritual matters, the lawyers appealed to the AGF and IGP to intervene and ensure the release of the detainee from what they deemed an unlawful detention by the police in Zone 4.
