RULAAC seeks probe of FCT Police over alleged custodial torture, gender abuse, extortion

Stanley Ihedigbo

A leading human rights organisation, the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), has petitioned the Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory Command, and the Police Service Commission over what it described as grave human rights abuses allegedly committed by the Divisional Police Officer of Garki Police Station and officers under his command.

In a detailed petition signed by Executive Director RULAAC, Executive Director, Com. Okechukwu Nwanguma,
accused the DPO, Mr. Ahmodu Mohammed, and several officers, including Officer Francis Gukas and SP Aminat, of unlawful arrest, prolonged detention, denial of access to counsel, torture, extortion, gender-based abuse and collusion with a complainant against a woman identified as Hajiya Mrs. Ngozi Umunna Ishola.

The rights group said the victim, a mother of two young children with special needs, was arrested on December 10, 2025, at about 11:50 p.m. at her residence in Garki, Abuja, and taken to the Garki Police Station without any formal complaint having been lodged against her at the time.

RULAAC stated that at the time of her arrest, the woman was unwell, on her menstrual cycle and forced to leave behind her four-year-old and two-year-old children without any care arrangements.

According to the petition, she was detained for two nights and three days without access to food, water, prescribed medication, family members or legal representation, and was pressured to write a statement against her will.

The organisation alleged that the arrest stemmed from a complaint by one Mr. James Asika Onwordi, who accused the woman of blackmailing him with a purported sex video after she allegedly rejected his sexual advances and refused pressure to participate in a threesome.

Rather than investigate the allegations of sexual harassment and coercion against the complainant, RULAAC said officers immediately aligned with him and treated the woman as guilty, turning the police process into “a tool of intimidation and coercion.”

The petition further alleged that throughout her detention, the victim was denied access to her mobile phones and prevented from contacting a lawyer or relatives.

She was subsequently taken to court without notice, legal representation or the opportunity to make any phone call and was secretly arraigned before a magistrate court in Dutse Alhaji instead of Wuse Zone 2, as earlier communicated to her lawyer.

Charged with extortion, harassment and intimidation, the woman was remanded at the Suleja Correctional Centre from December 12, 2025, after the magistrate insisted on a written bail application despite the urgency of the situation.

She remained in custody for over one month until January 19, 2026, while her two young children were reportedly left vulnerable and unattended for over five weeks.

RULAAC also accused officers of subjecting the victim to degrading and inhuman treatment amounting to torture.

These included detaining her with male suspects, allowing the complainant to physically assault and verbally abuse her inside the police station, threatening her to “produce money or go to prison,” and forcefully taking her to a bank to withdraw funds.

When she resisted, the group said she was returned to the cell as punishment.
During her transfer to Suleja Correctional Centre, the rights group alleged further degrading treatment, including unauthorised stopovers, prolonged abandonment under armed guard, and denial of access to use the toilet, forcing her to urinate on herself.

The petition further alleged illegal seizure and retention of her mobile phones and power bank, which remain with the police despite her being granted bail.

RULAAC disclosed that the woman has since received multiple Google security alerts indicating repeated attempts to access her phone and online accounts, raising fears of unauthorised access, digital intrusion and possible evidence tampering.

The organisation accused officers of colluding with the complainant, allowing him to influence decisions on detention, remand and bail while evading investigation for allegations of sexual harassment, assault and abuse of influence.

RULAAC said the conduct of the officers violated several provisions of the 1999 Constitution, including the rights to dignity, personal liberty and fair hearing, as well as the Nigeria Police Act, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, the Police Code of Conduct and Nigeria’s international human rights obligations.

The group called on the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, to immediately investigate the DPO and all officers involved, release the seized devices, probe alleged digital tampering, discipline culpable officers, investigate the unauthorised stopovers during transit, and ensure the complainant is properly investigated.

“This case represents a grave abuse of police powers, custodial torture, gender-based oppression and the weaponisation of law enforcement for private interests,” RULAAC said.

It warned that failure to act decisively would further erode public confidence in the Nigeria Police Force and embolden powerful individuals to continue using the police to victimize citizens.