14 Days Detention in Police Custody: Anambra Businessman Accuses Lawyer of Influencing Police Action

Mr. Ikenna Ezeume and Barrister Jideofor Okongwu

Awka, Anambra State –Mr. Ikenna Ezeume, an Awka-based businessman in Anambra State, has accused Barrister Jideofor Okongwu of unlawfully influencing his detention in police custody for 14 days without charge.

Ezeume alleges that Okongwu leveraged his influence to falsely implicate him in a criminal case involving robbery and rape in Nani, Anaocha local government of Anambra State.

According to Ezeume, a family from Enugwu Adazi in community, Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, accused him of robbing their house of ₦100,000 and raping a 15-year-old girl on their compound.

The family further alleged that Ezeume led others in committing the crime.

Ezeume denied the accusations, describing them as false and baseless. He stated that on the day the alleged robbery and rape occurred, he was in Awka, not his hometown, Enugwu Adazi.

He added that a thorough police investigation at the Neni Divisional Police Station cleared him of any involvement.

However, Ezeume claimed that Barrister Okongwu had been instigating the police and influencing the investigation despite the police finding no evidence implicating him.

He accused the lawyer of continuously spreading false allegations to tarnish his reputation and that of his family, allegedly to obstruct a forgery case pending in court.

Ezeume said, “Barrister Okongwu has been after me, making baseless claims just to derail the forgery case against him. I call on Governor Charles Soludo and the Nigerian Police Force to investigate my 14-day unlawful detention and the forgery allegations against this lawyer thoroughly.”

He lamented the personal and financial toll the ordeal had taken on him, including humiliation and intimidation, which he attributed to Okongwu’s influence over the police.

“Despite being cleared by the police, I was kept in detention, my phone was seized, and I was only given it back after 12 days, but with restrictions that prevented me from making private calls,” Ezeume explained.

Ezeume challenged the credibility of the allegations, highlighting inconsistencies: “How could I rob and rape in Enugwu Adazi when the richest person in that family is an okada rider? On the day in question, I was at house in Awka after a hospital visit and didn’t leave until the following morning, as confirmed by CCTV footage and the security guard.”he noted.

He further alleged that Okongwu pressured the police not to grant him bail, even involving the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs. Ify Obinabo, to keep him detained. Thankfully, he said after 14 days, the police released him on bail but later charged him in court.

Ezeume questioned the police’s inconsistent approach, pointing out that armed robbery and rape are classified as non-bailable offenses” why granting bail only to charge to court after 14 days”.

“This is a clear sign of undue influence from Barrister Okongwu,” he stated.

Ezeume appealed for the forgery case to be allowed to proceed to its rightful conclusion without interferences.

In response, Barrister Okongwu described himself as a seasoned legal practitioner with over 20 years of experience.

He confirmed his active legal practice and leadership roles, including serving as Chairman of the NBA Anaocha branch and Chairman of Chairmen of all eight NBA branches in Anambra State.

However, he declined to comment on whether he was suspended, citing ongoing court proceedings.

Regarding the forgery allegations, Okongwu said, “The case is still in court, and I cannot comment on pending matters to avoid litigation.”

He dismissed Ezeume’s claims as propaganda and reiterated his commitment to professional practice.

Addressing the rape and armed robbery accusations, Okongwu stated:
“The individual in question was arrested after complaints from residents of my village, alleging that he brought hoodlums into the community, who attacked residents, raped a woman, and stole ₦100,000. While the man did not commit the rape himself, being in the company of those who did constitutes conspiracy under the law, making him culpable.”

Okongwu explained that, as the community chairman, he intervened to protect community members.

He also pointed to a longstanding dispute over attempts by Ezeume’s family to create an autonomous community from Neni, which Okongwu deemed illegal and suggested as the root of their conflict.

A charge sheet obtained , the Federal High Court in Awka (case number FHC/Awka) reveals that the Inspector General of Police filed a complaint against Ikenna Ezeume, accusing him of knowingly publishing defamatory voice recordings via WhatsApp against Okongwu.

The recordings allege that Barrister Okongwu obtained admission to Delta State University and the Nigerian Law School through fraudulent means and he is unqualified to practice law.

The offense is punishable under Section 24(2) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015 (amended 2024).

Additional report from the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) of the Body of Benchers, chaired by Hon. Justice Dr. Isaq Bello, addressed complaints against Barrister Okongwu. The committee ruled that it lacks jurisdiction over criminal allegations such as forgery and issuance of dud cheques, emphasizing that such matters fall within the purview of regular courts with criminal jurisdiction.

The committee noted that multiple lawsuits filed by Okongwu involving the same parties, subject matter, and claims amounted to an abuse of court process and constituted professional misconduct under various rules of professional conduct for legal practitioners. Consequently, the committee found Okongwu guilty of infamous conduct during his professional duties, punishable under the Legal Practitioners Act.

He is suspended for three years for misconduct.

This case highlights a complex dispute involving allegations of criminal offenses, professional misconduct, and community conflict, with serious accusations exchanged between businessman Ikenna Ezeume and lawyer Barrister Jideofor Okongwu. The ongoing legal battles continue to unfold in court, with calls for thorough investigations and justice from all parties involved.