Former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, has condemned the arrest and detention of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) of Anambra State and three state counsel by the Nigeria Police in Abuja, describing the action as “a shocking abuse of power.”
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“@PoliceNG in Abuja ordered the arrest & detention yesterday of the DPP of Anambra State & 3 State Counsel in her department for the lawful exercise of her powers of the DPP,” Odinkalu wrote on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, tagging the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, Mr. Afam Osigwe, SAN, and asking: “@NigBarAssoc president, @afamosigwe, did you know?”
The arrests are linked to the withdrawal of a controversial homicide charge against Joshua Chukwubueze Ikechukwu, accused of killing Aminu Sahabi Salisu, an officer of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), during a midnight raid on his residence in Awka, Anambra State, in January 2025.
EFCC had alleged that Ikechukwu, a suspected cybercriminal, opened fire on operatives during a sting operation on January 17, killing Salisu and injuring another officer. Ikechukwu, however, claimed that unknown intruders scaled his fence at night without proper identification. Following a review of the case, the Anambra State DPP entered a nolle prosequi, citing insufficient credible evidence to sustain the charge.
Despite this, the Inspector-General of Police reportedly overruled the DPP’s decision and ordered the arrest and detention of the DPP and three state counsel involved in the case.
“They were detained in Abuja on Monday and held until late,” a source said. “It was only in the early hours of Tuesday that the DPP and the other lawyers were released on self-recognizance after intense lobbying and intervention.”
Odinkalu warned that such actions undermine prosecutorial independence and set a dangerous precedent. “Whether or not you agree with the nolle prosequi, there are legal remedies to challenge it. What you do not do is arrest and humiliate public officers for doing their job,” he said.
The Nigerian Bar Association has yet to respond officially, but calls are growing for it to defend prosecutorial independence and the rights of its members.
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