Abuja, Nigeria – Prince Okoro Nkemakolam has dragged the Nigeria Police Force and two individuals, Chinedu Pius Ogba and Chibuzor Peter Ogba, to the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking $200,000 in damages for what he claims is an unlawful declaration as a wanted person. The legal action follows the Nigeria Police’s publication declaring him wanted on the 25th of September.
Reacting to the publication, his lawyer, Barr. Stanley Maduabuchi Ofoegbu, wrote to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) demanding the immediate removal of the publication. The demand letter cited that the subject matter was already before the Court of Appeal in Abuja and highlighted the absence of any warrant issued by that court or any other. The counsel warned that failure to retract the publication would lead to legal actions.
The suit, with number
FHC/Abj/ CS/2081/2025 was filed by his lawyer, Stanley Maduabuchi Ofoegbu, Esq., and lists the respondents as:
1. Chinedu Pius Ogba (aka Totti)
2. Chibuzor Peter Ogba (aka Pablo)
3. The Inspector General of Police
4. The Assistant Inspector General of Police, National Central Bureau (Interpol)
5. The Nigeria Police Force
The application, filed under the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, alleges a serious breach of Prince Nkemakolam’s human rights. The applicant is invoking sections of the Nigerian Constitution that guarantee his right to personal liberty, dignity of person, fair hearing, private life, and freedom of movement.
He also cites the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, arguing that the actions of the respondents have violated these fundamental legal protections.
Reliefs Sought from the Court
In the originating motion, Prince Nkemakolam is asking the court for several key orders:
· An Apology and Retraction: An order compelling the 1st to 4th respondents to immediately take down all publications declaring him wanted from their social media handles and to publish formal apologies in three national newspapers.
·Substantial Damages: A directive for all five respondents to jointly pay him the sum of $200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand US Dollars) as compensation for the violation of his fundamental rights.
·An Injunction Against Harassment: A court order restraining the police and the other respondents from any further action that could breach his rights, including any form of invitation, arrest, threat of arrest, or continuing to declare him a wanted person.
Efforts to get an official reaction from the Nigeria Police Force have been unsuccessful. Multiple calls to the Force Public Relations Officer’s designated lines went unanswered.
The outcome of this case is being closely watched, as it could set a significant precedent regarding the procedures law enforcement must follow before publicly declaring an individual as wanted.
Stay with IgbereTV, Africa’s premier online community TV
