RULAAC raises alarm over attempted malicious prosecution of Mr. Nebo Kingsley by IRT officers

Stanley Ihedigbo

Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police over what it describes as the alleged illegal detention, harassment, and attempted prosecution of Mr. Nebo Kingsley by officers of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT).

According to the petition, Mr. Kingsley, an indigene of Enugu State, was reportedly detained by the IRT for several weeks without lawful justification.

During the period, he alleged that he endured humiliation, hardship, and degrading treatment while in custody.

Following his release, Mr. Kingsley approached the Police Complaint Response Unit (CRU) at Force Headquarters in Abuja, requesting a reinvestigation into his arrest, detention, and alleged ill-treatment.

The CRU reportedly cleared him of wrongdoing, sanctioned the officers involved, and dismissed the original IRT findings as flawed.

However, RULAAC has now raised concerns that the same discredited IRT report is allegedly being forwarded to the office of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (Legal) with the intention of arraigning Mr. Kingsley in court.

The organisation warned that proceeding with prosecution based on the previously faulted report constitutes a serious disregard for internal police accountability mechanisms and may amount to malicious prosecution.

RULAAC also highlighted troubling allegations regarding the misuse of Mr. Kingsley’s photographs.

The petition states that officers allegedly took pictures of Mr. Kingsley during detention and unlawfully shared them with complainants involved in personal disputes with him.

These images have reportedly circulated online, leading to defamation, cyberbullying, and potential threats to his personal safety.

The petition requests that the Inspector-General of Police review the matter urgently, particularly the attempt to prosecute Mr. Kingsley based on the discredited IRT report.

Withdraw any charges proposed or initiated against him based on that report. Ensure that the findings and disciplinary measures of the CRU investigation are fully respected and implemented.

Investigate the conduct of officers who allegedly shared the photographs and pursued the matter despite his exoneration. Take steps to prevent further harassment, intimidation, or unlawful prosecution of Mr. Kingsley.

RULAAC stated its continued commitment to promoting accountability, professionalism, and respect for human rights within the Nigeria Police Force, calling on the Inspector-General to treat the matter with urgency and seriousness.

The organisation’s Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, concluded the petition by urging the police leadership to keep them informed of the steps taken to address these alleged violations.