Silas Onwugbonu,  Esq Deji Adeyanju and Partners, have lambasted the Nigeria Police Force for getting involved in civil matters.

This was even as they claimed that their client,  Chizorom Harrison Ofoegbu’s health continued to deteriorate at the Nigeria Correctional Centre, Ikoyi, Lagos State.

According to them, Ofoegbu has been detained since March 19, 2024, at the instance of the Nigeria Police Force, on a purely civil dispute.

They added: “A few days ago, our attention was drawn to the fact that our client, who is currently detained at the Nigeria Correctional Centre (NCC), Ikoyi, Lagos State, is gravely ill.

“As at the time of issuing this public statement, our client’s health condition has deteriorated to the point of coughing out blood, with no medical facilities available to restore his health within the NCC, Ikoyi.

“It will be recalled that in furtherance of its desire to perpetually keep our client in detention, the Nigeria Police Force has filed three pending identical charges FHC/ABJ/CR/159/2024; INSPECTOR GENERAL

OF POLICE V CHIZOROM HARRIS OFOEGBU: FHC/L/312C/2924; INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE V CHIZOROM HARRIS OFOEGBU and FHC/AWK/CR/2024:INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE V CHUKWUKA CHIZOROM OFOEGBU, against our client, at the Federal High Court, Abuja, Lagos and Awka, all at the instance of the same coalition of nominal complainants, and for the same alleged civil dispute.”

The lawyers further added that on June 14, 2024, the Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos, granted their client bail, following the spirited legal intervention of  Femi Falana, SAN, and Funmi Falana, SAN.

“However, to frustrate the bail granted to our client, officers of the Nigeria Police Force immediately went to NSC Ikoyi, and attempted to forcefully transfer him to Awka, Anambra state, based on an alleged criminal summons,” the lawyers alleged.

They continued: “It is on this note that we are constrained to state that the action of the Nigeria Police Force against our client has moved beyond criminal prosecution to persecution. The Nigeria Police Force must refrain from making itself available as an interventionist in civil disputes between citizens.

“As our client’s health continues to deteriorate by the hour, we call on the Inspector General of Police to direct its officers to respect court orders and desist from further persecution of our client, who enjoys the constitutional presumption of innocence. A dead defendant cannot stand trial.”