At the Monthly General Meeting held by the Nigerian Bar Association, Owerri Branch on the 30th of September, 2023 at the NBA Owerri Branch Bar Center, one of the agenda of the meeting was the unlawful treatment of a fellow member of the Branch. The Members delebrated on the complaints of assault, humiliation, torture, and unlawful detention of Chigozie Chinaka Esq. by ACP David Ogenyi (the Police Area Commander, Owerri Municipality, Imo State).
The Chairman, Ugochukwu Alinnor, Esq. and Secretary, M. Chukwurah Onuorah, Esq., of NBA Owerri Branch issued the resolution of the Branch at the meeting, in which the Branch expressed their displeasure and condemned the treatment of the Member, referring to it as a despicable and barbaric act by the ACP and the men under his command and control for the assault, humiliation, torture, and unlawful detention of Chigozie Chinaka, Esq. between Monday 25th of September and Tuesday 26th of September, 2023 in the course of providing legal services for his client.
The Branch therefore calls for the immediate suspension of ACP David Ogenyi as the Area Commander, Owerri Municipal, to guarantee a thorough and impartial investigation of the allegations levelled against him and other officers within the command.
The Branch resolved to constitute a three (3) man committee with a concise term of reference which includes: (a) To interface with the National Body in collaboration with NBA Security Agencies Relation Committee (NBA – SARC) and present petitions against the ACP, David Ogenyi and concerned officers to the Commissioner of Police Imo State, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police Zone 9 Umuahia, the Inspector-General of Police, the Police Service Commission, and the Attorney-General of the Federation. (b) To immediately institute fundamental human rights actions against ACP David Ogenyi and the concerned officers and demand immediate redress and compensatory justice for Chigozie Chinaka, Esq.
The Branch also assured their colleague, Chigozie Chinaka, Esq., members of the legal profession and the general public that the Bar remains resolute in the promotion and protection of the rule of law in the society. Insisting that the perpetrators of assault, humiliation, torture, and unlawful detention of their colleague must be made to face the full weight of the law.