Legal practitioner Ikechukwu Godswill Nwaozichi, Esq., has formally petitioned the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), urging the association to investigate alleged misconduct, abuse of office, and unlawful detention by Hon. Justice Evelyn Otusha Inarigu of the Upper Customary Court Grade 1, Karu, Nasarawa State, and two court staff members, identified as Isaac and Andrew.
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In a letter dated October 16, 2025, Nwaozichi recounted how, on October 14, 2025, he was unlawfully detained, harassed, and physically assaulted while appearing as counsel for the Defendant in Suit No: UCCK/CR/225/2025, a direct criminal complaint. He alleged that court staff, acting on the directives of Justice Inarigu, physically obstructed his exit from the court premises and coordinated with police officers to enforce his detention.
According to Nwaozichi, the incident began after the court’s registrar, Isaac, announced that the court would not sit due to the Judge being bereaved. When Nwaozichi attempted to leave, Isaac questioned him about the whereabouts of the Defendant and, with the assistance of Andrew, physically blocked him, eventually escorting him to the police station under the pretext of a court directive.
While at the police station, Nwaozichi stated that the two court staff and the Complainant’s counsel demanded he produce the Defendant or his representative, failing which he would not be released. He was later reunited with colleagues after the intervention of representatives from the NBA Unity Branch, NBA Keffi Branch, the NBA Human Rights Committee, and other legal practitioners.
The petition also highlights previous instances of alleged intimidation, including a prior encounter on October 8, 2025, when another counsel from the firm was summoned into chambers under questionable circumstances while filing a notice of preliminary objection.
Nwaozichi emphasized that he neither stood as surety for the Defendant nor had custody of him, asserting that there was no legal basis for his detention. He called for a thorough and impartial investigation into the actions of Justice Inarigu and her staff to ensure accountability, uphold professional ethics, and protect the integrity of the judiciary.
Petition by I.G. Nwaozichi against Justice Evelyn Otusha InariguAttached to the petition were copies of the direct criminal complaint, the notice of preliminary objection filed on October 8, 2025, and photographic evidence of injuries sustained during the alleged assault. Copies of the petition were also forwarded to the Chief Judge of Nasarawa State, the President of the Customary Court of Appeal, and various NBA branches.
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