The family of Michael Kenechukwu Ekemezie, a Nigerian man who died under controversial circumstances during a police encounter in Lausanne, Switzerland, on May 25, 2025, has petitioned the Swiss authorities and Nigeria’s Diaspora Commission, demanding an immediate and transparent investigation into what they describe as a brutal killing.
Ekemezie, a native of Anambra State, was reportedly subjected to excessive force by Swiss police officers, leading to his death by asphyxiation—a tragedy his family likens to the 2020 murder of George Floyd in the United States.
In a petition addressed to the Swiss Ambassador to Nigeria and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), the family, through their lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, alleged that the 2025 incident mirrors the same fatal restraint tactics that drew global outrage five years ago.
“This disturbing event calls into question the commitment of the Swiss Government to the sanctity of human life and due process, as outlined in international treaties to which Switzerland is a signatory,” Ejiofor stated.
The petition, seen by The PUNCH, demanded several urgent actions from the Swiss government, including the following:
A thorough, independent, and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ekemezie’s death;
Public disclosure of all officers involved, with immediate suspension and prosecution;
Full access to autopsy reports, any bodycam footage, eyewitness statements, and all relevant documentation;
Compensation for the bereaved family for emotional, psychological, and economic loss;
Support for the repatriation of Ekemezie’s remains to Nigeria and assistance with funeral arrangements;
An official apology and assurance of measures to prevent a recurrence.
“Ekemezie, like many others, had lived and worked in Switzerland for over a decade in pursuit of a better life. His death in the hands of those meant to protect him is both heartbreaking and outrageous,” Ejiofor said.
Footage of the incident circulating among Nigerian residents in Switzerland shows Ekemezie handcuffed and pinned face-down by an officer who allegedly used lethal force. “His distress was visible.
He was ignored, unheard, and ultimately lifeless,” Ejiofor added.
The lawyer lamented what he described as a “deafening silence” from both international media and the Swiss authorities, contrasting the global reckoning that followed Floyd’s death with what he termed a deliberate downplaying of Ekemezie’s case.
“This silence is both unacceptable and deeply troubling. It suggests that the life of an African man can be taken without consequence or acknowledgment,” he said.
In response to the incident, members of the Nigerian and African communities in Switzerland have staged protests demanding accountability.
According to Ejiofor, the response from the Swiss authorities has been “lukewarm” and lacking the urgency such a grave incident demands.
He disclosed that petitions have also been submitted to international bodies including the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the United Nations Human Rights Council.
“This is not just about one man’s death. It is about justice, human dignity, and the value placed on African lives,” Ejiofor said.
“We call on the Nigerian government to demand answers and on the international community to speak out against this gross injustice.”
The family insists that unless urgent steps are taken by the Swiss government to investigate and provide redress, they will escalate the matter across all available diplomatic and legal channels.
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