Detention: Ex- Commissioner, Ihekweme demands N10B, apology

Austin Okoro DDM NEWS

The Former Commissioner for Foreign Affairs in Imo state , Dr Fabian Ihekweme has demanded Ten Billion naira (#10b) compensation  for unlawful arrest and detention from the Imo state government.

He also demanded for public apology from the Imo state government led by Senator Hope Uzodinma

According to a report from an online media platform, known as Daily Post, it stated that he made the demand through a letter addressed to the Governor, Hope Uzodinma by his lawyers insisting that his detention was illegal and his fundamental human rights were violated.

The report states: “Fabian Ihekweme, a former Commissioner for Foreign Affairs in the first tenure of Governor Hope Uzodinma’s administration, has issued a legal demand for N10 billion in compensation and a public apology from the Imo State Government.

He alleged unlawful detention, torture and a violation of his fundamental human rights. insisting that his detention was illegal and that his fundamental human rights were violated.

In a letter addressed to Governor Uzodinma through his lawyers, Ihekweme insisted that his detention was illegal and that his rights to personal liberty, fair hearing, and freedom of movement were grossly violated.

He is demanding an open apology from the governor, to be published in two national dailies, as well as financial compensation which is N10bn.

Citing Sections 34, 35, 36, and 41 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the former commissioner insisted that he was incarcerated without any legal process, thereby denying him his rights to personal liberty, fair hearing, and freedom of movement.

The letter revealed that a Federal High Court sitting in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), presided over by Honourable Justice Y. Halilu, had on January 30, 2025, ordered the immediate and unconditional release of the former commissioner from police custody, where he had been detained for 62 days.

According to his legal counsel, the court also granted a perpetual injunction restraining the Inspector General of Police, the Nigeria Police Force, their authorized agents, and any other entity from further disturbing or interfering with the rights of the former commissioner.

In late November 2024, Ihekweme’s disappearance from his residence raised concerns, which were later addressed by the Imo Police Command. The command claimed to have arrested him over allegations of seditious and inflammatory publications against Governor Uzodinma.

It was further disclosed that his arrest followed a petition filed against him by a group known as the Imo Democratic Alliance, IDA”, the report concluded.

Recall that Dr Fabian Ihekweme was a former Commissioner in Governor Hope Uzodinma’s government but later resigned and joined the struggle for the birth of a new Nigeria through Mr. Peter Obi.

And as the Coordinator of the Big Tent political structure in the South East for Mr Peter Obi Presidential bid under labour party, South East voted overwhelmingly for Obi.

But during the build up of Governor Uzodinma’s second tenure campaign in 2023, Ihekweme through his structure supported him to emerge victory. The rest is history.