Outrage has erupted following the killing of Nigerian businessman Michael Ekemezie by police officers in Lausanne, Switzerland, on May 25, 2025.
Diaspora Digital Media DDM reported that the 40-year-old, who hailed from Anambra State, was allegedly subjected to brutal and excessive police force in an incident that left him dead inside a Swiss police station.
The disturbing incident, captured on video and circulated widely, triggered global condemnation, drawing parallels to the 2020 death of George Floyd in the United States.
According to a formal petition submitted by the family’s lawyer, Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor, Ekemezie was reportedly violently restrained by Swiss officers, leading to asphyxiation.
Eyewitness accounts allege that Ekemezie cried for help during the restraint, but officers ignored his pleas until he became unresponsive.
The petition was addressed to the Swiss Embassy in Nigeria and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), demanding an immediate and transparent investigation.
AriseTV reported that on June 4, the Swiss Embassy responded, confirming that the Cantonal Prosecutor’s Office in Lausanne had launched a formal probe.
The response, signed by Chargé d’Affaires Siamak Rouhani, acknowledged the incident but cited Switzerland’s data privacy laws and judicial independence as reasons for withholding details.
The letter reads, “The Prosecutor’s Office has opened an investigation into the death of a person of African origin. The results are pending.”
It added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not have access to ongoing cantonal legal matters and cannot interfere with the process.
Ejiofor, however, expressed concern over the Embassy’s silence on the specific actions that led to his client’s death.
“This was not an accident. This was a deliberate act of systemic violence, carried out with disregard for human dignity,” he said.
He stressed that Switzerland’s reputation as a human rights champion is now under global scrutiny.
The family of Ekemezie, devastated by the loss, has vowed to pursue international legal redress if transparency is not ensured.
“This is not only a legal issue. This is a human catastrophe. A son was lost. A mother weeps. A nation watches,” Ejiofor stated.
He added that diplomatic pressure would be sustained until justice is served and those responsible are held to account.
In his statement, Ejiofor called on the international community to intervene and demand a full public inquest.
“Michael’s death must not be hidden behind bureaucracy or political silence,” he added.
NiDCOM has confirmed receipt of the petition and said it would monitor the investigation closely, ensuring that Switzerland complies with international human rights laws.
The Nigerian Embassy in Bern has also pledged support to the family, promising direct engagement with Swiss authorities.
Civil rights groups have joined the call for justice, urging the United Nations Human Rights Council to investigate potential racial profiling and police brutality in Switzerland.
Many Nigerians in Europe have also staged peaceful protests, calling for a halt to the abuse of African migrants by European police agencies.
As the world waits for the investigation outcome, the demand remains clear: Justice for Michael Ekemezie must be swift, transparent, and complete.
