In a troubling turn of events, the quest for justice by two individuals, Ikechukwu Uduji (23) and Ikechukwu Okolie (38), remanded in a Nigerian prison over allegations against Divisional Police Officer CSP Benjamin Ugwui, faces a significant setback due to a missing case file.
The ordeal began when the Enugu State police commissioner, Kanayo Uzuegbu, ordered the arrest of Uduji and Okolie following their petition against CSP Ugwui for alleged extortion and demand for a refund.
The arrest occurred on October 29, 2023, after the duo’s refusal to disown their petition, leading to their detention at the Awgu Police Station, where they endured torture and brutality for two days.
On October 31, 2023, the victims were arraigned before Magistrate P. U. Igwilo on trumped-up charges of attempted murder and serious assault on four policemen.
The court, citing jurisdictional issues, didn’t allow them to enter a plea and ordered their remand in prison custody, with the case file to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Despite their families petitioning the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice for intervention, the DPP has yet to respond due to the untraceable case file.
Concerns have been raised about the possible conspiracy involving police officers, court officials, and DPP representatives to make the file disappear, preventing the state from filing charges at the High Court, where bail could be sought.
Relatives of the detained duo expressed anguish, with one family member disclosing ongoing efforts to obtain a Certified True Copy (C.T.C) of the case file booklet from the Magistrate Court to confirm its whereabouts.
The family is determined to hold those responsible accountable and seek justice for Uduji and Okolie, who have languished in prison custody for over four months amid the bureaucratic challenges.
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