RULAAC DEMANDS THAT POLICE CONDUCT OPEN INVESTIGATIONS.

The Rule of Law Advocacy and Accountability Center has urged the Nigerian Police to conduct a transparent inquiry into the claims made by whistleblower Emeh Nnamdi, a 26-year-old member of the National Youth Service Corps.

This was said in a statement released on Monday and signed by the organization’s executive director, Okechukwu Nwaguma.

“RULAAC has taken note of the news of the arrest of the 26-year-old member of the National Youth Service Corps, Emeh Nnamdi, who was declared wanted by the Nigerian Police Force on February 20, 2023 for “impersonating an Assistant Superintendent of Police and defaming of character,” he stated.

This is the same person who disclosed the presence of an alleged criminal cartel of police officers in Zone 13 Ukpo and the Anambra State CID Annex (formerly Awkuzu SARS), engaged in extrajudicial killings, theft, and conversion of the property of executed captives in their care.

“Both sides must be the subject of an open, objective, thorough, and efficient examination. Any type of torture or cruel treatment must not be inflicted onto the jailed whistleblower. He shall receive all due process protections and safeguards against violations of his basic human rights. He should be given access to legal counsel as required by the Police Act, and the IGP should make that happen.

The young corp member was being held by the police, according to RULAAC, but the accused officers were released the same day after being invited to the Force Headquarters.

“The Nigeria Police Force had invited the accused police officers, including Inspector Patrick Chukwuemeka Agbazue, Chief Superintendent of Police Princess Nwode Nkeiruka, a former Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Anambra State Police Command, and current PPRO for Zone 13 Headquarters, Ukpo, and Inspector Patrick Chukwuemeka Agbazue, to the Force Headquarters.

“They were given permission to return home that day. Their accuser and informant has been taken into custody and is being held at Force Headquarters.

Following the Force PRO’s announcement that an investigation team had been assembled, the group said that civil society organizations were closely watching both the inquiry into the charges against the officers and the whistleblower.

Nwagyuma also warned against hiding or protecting anyone who has been implicated in a crime and stated that RULAAC was interested in having the truth revealed and justice served.