Mrs. Excel Ihekweme, the wife of Dr. Fabian Ihekweme, former Commissioner for Foreign and International Affairs in Imo State, has taken her grievances to the highest echelons of power in Nigeria. She has petitioned President Bola Tinubu and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Lateef Fagbemi SAN, over what she describes as the unlawful arrest and detention of her husband.
The petitions, dated December 13, were penned on her behalf by the Initiative Against Human Right Abuse & Torture, a rights advocacy group. Comrade Gerald Katchy, the Executive Director of the group, signed the documents, which were titled: “Complaint of Abuse of Power and Office by Security and Enforcement Agencies and Disregard to the Rule of Law: A Menace to the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency.”
Mrs. Ihekweme alleges that her husband was forcibly arrested on November 27 at his office in Abuja by police officers who did not present an arrest warrant. "Unidentified armed men forcefully abducted Dr. Ihekweme from his home without a warrant, due process, or access to his legal counsel," she stated in the petition. She further claimed that his phone was confiscated, and he was denied necessary medical care.
The former commissioner is currently being held at the Tiger Base police unit, where he is reportedly subjected to inhumane treatment. He faces accusations of sponsoring the Eastern Security Network (ESN), allegations Mrs. Ihekweme vehemently denies, describing them as "baseless" and aimed at discrediting her husband's integrity.
Mrs. Ihekweme's appeal extends beyond the President and AGF. She has also reached out to the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), seeking their intervention in what she terms a "gross violation of fundamental rights."
"This ordeal has left his family, including his children, traumatized and mentally distressed," she lamented, emphasizing the impact of the situation on her family. She is calling for her husband's immediate and unconditional release and demands an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his arrest and detention.
The case has sparked discussions about citizens' rights to freedom of expression and the potential repercussions of holding leaders accountable. Mrs. Ihekweme insists that her husband's plight began when he urged the governor of Imo State to prioritize the needs of the citizens and fulfill campaign promises.
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