The wife of Dr. Fabian Ihekweme, the former Commissioner for Foreign and International Affairs in Imo State, has called on President Bola Tinubu and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, to intervene in the unlawful arrest and detention of her husband. Mrs. Excel Ihekweme, through a petition filed on December 13, 2024, is demanding justice for her husband, who has been in police detention since November 27, 2024, under what she claims are dubious and unlawful circumstances.
In the petition, which was submitted to both President Tinubu and the AGF, Excel Ihekweme alleges that her husband was forcibly taken from their residence in Abuja by armed police officers without an arrest warrant. She states that the arrest occurred without due process and that her husband was denied access to legal counsel or basic medical care during his detention.
“I am seeking your urgent intervention in this grave matter involving gross violation of fundamental rights of a citizen of Nigeria (Dr. Fabian Ihekweme), my husband, and an action of the police against the rule of law, the Nigerian constitution, and the justice systems within the Nigeria Police Force,” Excel said in the petition, which was also signed by Comrade Gerald Katchy, the Executive Director of the Initiative Against Human Rights Abuse & Torture.
According to Excel Ihekweme, her husband’s troubles began when he publicly urged Governor Uzodinma to prioritise the needs of Imo State’s citizens and deliver on campaign promises made during his tenure.
Excel alleged that these remarks, made in the spirit of public service, resulted in a campaign to silence her husband. “This act of accountability by Dr. Fabian Ihekweme, regrettably, led to his persecution,” she noted. According to her, this was a direct retaliation for his criticism of the state government.
Excel’s petition outlines several allegations against the Nigerian police, which she claims have violated her husband’s constitutional rights. She stated that Dr. Ihekweme’s phone was confiscated upon his arrest, further isolating him from his family and legal representatives. Additionally, she claimed that her husband was not given medical attention, despite the distress caused by his detention.
“For over 24 hours, his family had no knowledge of his whereabouts until the police issued a statement confirming his detention,” Excel wrote. The prolonged uncertainty over her husband’s whereabouts added to the trauma experienced by his family, she said, with particular distress caused to their children.
The police have reportedly accused Dr. Ihekweme of being involved in the Eastern Security Network (ESN), a group believed to have links with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). According to Excel, the allegations against her husband are unfounded and intended to tarnish his reputation and silence his calls for good governance. She has strongly rejected the accusations, describing them as “baseless” and aimed at discrediting Dr. Ihekweme’s integrity.
“This baseless allegation is aimed at discrediting his integrity and silencing his voice,” she wrote in the petition. The alleged accusations have only intensified the emotional and psychological toll on Dr. Ihekweme’s family, further compounding their distress.
In her petition to President Tinubu and the AGF, Excel called for several actions, including the immediate and unconditional release of her husband, Dr. Fabian Ihekweme. She also demanded that his right to due process, legal representation, and medical care be upheld.
Excel also called for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding her husband’s arrest and detention. “I am requesting an independent investigation into the circumstances of his arrest, detention, and the allegations against him,” she stated. This would ensure that the police’s actions are properly scrutinised and that accountability is established for any violations of Dr. Ihekweme’s rights.
Moreover, Excel’s petition extends beyond her husband’s case, emphasizing the importance of protecting the fundamental rights of all Nigerian citizens, especially their right to freedom of expression. She called for greater efforts to ensure that no citizen is persecuted for holding government leaders accountable or advocating for good governance.
Excel Ihekweme has also reached out to several human rights bodies to lend their support in her fight for justice. In addition to petitioning President Tinubu and the AGF, she also sent letters to the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). These letters, which were also signed by Excel, implore these organizations to intervene in the matter, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding the rights of Nigerian citizens.
“I have written letters to the NHRC and NBA, seeking their urgent intervention to ensure that this miscarriage of justice is rectified,” she said.
Imo State, which has long been a flashpoint for political and security issues, is currently dealing with a range of challenges, including insurgency-related violence linked to groups like ESN. These challenges have created a tense environment for both the state government and the opposition, with critics accusing the government of using security concerns to silence dissent.
