Dr. Fabian Ihekweme, the former Commissioner for Foreign and International Affairs in Imo State, has formally demanded ₦10 billion in compensation and a public apology from Governor Hope Uzodinma’s administration, citing unlawful detention and violation of his fundamental human rights.
In a letter addressed to Governor Uzodinma, Ihekweme’s legal team asserts that his arrest and subsequent 62-day detention, beginning on November 27, 2024, were conducted without due process, infringing upon his rights to personal liberty, fair hearing, and freedom of movement as enshrined in Sections 34, 35, 36, and 41 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution.
The legal counsel emphasizes that a Federal High Court in the Federal Capital Territory, presided over by Justice Y. Halilu, ordered Ihekweme’s immediate and unconditional release on January 30, 2025. The court also issued a perpetual injunction preventing the Inspector General of Police, the Nigeria Police Force, and their agents from further harassment or infringement of Ihekweme’s constitutional rights.
Ihekweme’s arrest followed allegations of seditious and inflammatory publications against Governor Uzodinma, purportedly based on a petition by the Imo Democratic Alliance. During his detention, concerns were raised about his health, with his wife, Excel Ihekweme, petitioning President Bola Tinubu and the Attorney-General of the Federation for his release, citing the unlawful nature of his arrest and the denial of medical care.
In addition to the financial compensation, Ihekweme demands a public apology from Governor Uzodinma, to be published in two national newspapers, to address the damage to his reputation and the distress caused by the alleged unlawful actions.
