The family of Nnamdi Daniel Emeh, an Anambra corps member who has been in detention for over a year despite perfecting bail conditions, has called on the Nigeria Police Force to release the report on the findings of the investigations on Patrick Agbazue, a former policeman.
Agbazue, once with the Rapid Response Squad, Akwuzu in Anambra, formerly referred to as SARS Akwuzu, has been accused of extrajudicial killings for years.
FIJ had reported in June how Emeh, despite perfecting his bail conditions, remained in detention a year after exposing Agbazue, who was infamous for unlawful detention and extrajudicial killings as well as using his status as a SARS Akwuzu officer to extort his victims.
These acts earned Agbazue the moniker “Anambra Killer Cop“.
Patrick Agbazue. COLLAGE: FIJ
When these accusations came to light, Usman Alkali Baba, Inspector-General of Police at the time, set up a panel to investigate Agbazue and his unit.
However, there has been no word from the panel since it was set up in February 2023. The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has not released the findings from the SARS Akwuzu investigation.
“The Inspector-General of Police at the time conducted some investigations and came out with an indicting report, but up till today, the report has not seen the light of day. The cabals of the Nigeria Police Force have refused to let the report see the light,” ThankGod Ajah, a source familiar with Emeh’s case, told FIJ on August 9.
“There are lots of unresolved murders, extortion and high-handedness in Anambra. They have to release the report on the investigations they conducted on Agbazue so the world can know the truth.”
Nnamdi Daniel Emeh
Emeh, who was charged to court by the police, was accused of money laundering, illegal possession of firearms, smuggling of arms, defamation of character, hacking into one Chibuike Martins Ekwueme’s bank account and transferring the sum of N47 million into another account.
READ MORE: Corps Member ‘Who Exposed Anambra Killer Cop and Organ Harvester’ Has Spent Over a Year in Prison — Accused Policeman Free
According to Ajah, Emeh was innocent of all the accusations.
“He (Emeh) was part of the team that tracked Chibuike Martins Ekwueme, who was accused of sponsoring the proscribed Eastern Security Network (ESN). Agbazue directed him to transfer money from his account. Contrary to publicly available information, he did not transfer the money to 14 accounts owned by him. He does not even have 14 bank accounts,” said Ajah.
“He transferred about N50 million to Oliver Iloama, once referred to as the deputy chairman of the stock exchange in Onitsha, per Agbazue’s orders. Iloama then converted it to dollars and handed the cash to Paul Okoli, a staff member of the Department of State Services (DSS), who then instructed Emeh to give Patrick the sum of 53,000 dollars.”
Some receipts of the transactions.
FIJ also learnt that Okoli and Iloama were arrested but eventually released.
Ekwueme’s family would later learn that money was moved from his account without his authorisation. They raised the alarm and reported this to the police.
Ajah also told FIJ that Agbazue attempted to assassinate Emeh, and he had to flee to Benin Republic, where he was arrested.
Regarding a viral blog post by Gistlover that Emeh was accused of publishing, Ajah told FIJ that although some of the information contained in the blog was correct, Emeh had not written it.
“He did not write the post, neither is he the one managing Gistlover. There are cases of extrajudicial killings, highhandedness and extortion involving Agbazue. He takes advantage of his status as a policeman for his personal gains,” said Ajah.
“He takes the properties of his victims and murders some of them. Nnamdi [Emeh] said he can’t verify whether the organ-selling allegations are correct,” he added.
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ABANDONED DREAMS
Since the charges against Emeh did not include murder, armed robbery, arson or terrorism, he was granted bail by the court.
In June, John Emeh, Emeh’s father, told FIJ that despite perfecting bail requirements, the police appeared to file an ex parte motion for a stay of execution of the released warrant on May 16, which has hindered Emeh’s release.
“We have been trying to secure his freedom since then. The judge signed the release warrant for Nnamdi [Emeh] on May 15, but to our greatest shock, the police appeared on May 16 and filed an ex parte motion for a stay of execution of the released warrant,” John told FIJ in June.
FIJ learnt that Emeh had been transferred to three different prisons since the inception of his court case despite not committing any capital offence. While he is languishing in prison for an offence he and his relatives claim he is innocent of, Agbazue is a free man and the reports of the investigations on him have not been released.
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FIJ learnt that Emeh appeared in court three times in July, but he had no court hearing ten months before then. Agbazue and Iloama also appeared in court, but the court adjourned his hearing to September.
Ajah told FIJ that Emeh’s life has been on hold since the trial began.
“His whole life is on a standstill. It is like pressing pause on a TV remote while watching a movie. He had planned to further his education up to the PhD level after completing his mandatory one-year NYSC scheme. Being in prison has been mentally and emotionally exhausting for him. He has been assaulted by some inmates in the past who think he is an informant,” Ajah explained.
“He is fighting for his life on the outside and inside. Some inmates whom he had helped track and arrest see him as a foe and have assaulted him in the past. They think he is an informant of the police in prison.”
Ajah and other members of Emeh’s family believe that his case is not treated fairly.
“We have been hearing so many things about his trial and it bothers us. A former Assistant Inspector-General of Police had boasted that Emeh would rot in prison till he retires. We also heard from someone that the judge has written his judgment and it would be read in October despite his ongoing trial,” Ajah said.
FIJ has seen more accusations of the highhandedness of RRS Akwuzu policemen and cases of illegal detention there.
In July, @Echi_di_ime, an X user, asked for an update on the investigation panel set up to look into extra-judicial killings in RRS Akwuzu.
What is the update on the investigation panel set up to look into the alleged extra-judicial killings of Akwuzu SARS?One year has gone by, no update on the outcome of the investigation.People are still missing The RRS team there are still doing their thing “the usual way”— kenechukwu® (@Echi_di_ime) July 9, 2024
“What is the update on the investigation panel set up to look into the alleged extra-judicial killings in Akwuzu SARS? One year has gone by, and there is no update on the outcome of the investigation. People are still missing. The RRS team there are(sic) still doing their thing ‘the usual way’,” he wrote.
FIJ sent Muyiwa Adejobi, the Nigeria Police Force PRO, a message on Thursday, but he did not respond.
Adejobi did not respond to phone calls on Tuesday. He had not responded to FIJ’s message at press time.
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