Human Rights Lawyer Inibehe Effiong has accused the Inspector General of Police of making an attempt to rearrest one Chioma Okoli who is his client by violating a court order.
In a statement issued on Tuesday the lawyer cum activist alleged that policemen invaded and laid siege on the private residence of Mrs Chioma Edoka Okoli at Sangotedo area of Lagos State.
“At about 7:00 AM today Tuesday, the 9th day of January 2024, policemen invaded and laid siege on the private residence of Mrs. Chioma Edoka Okoli located at Sangotedo in Lagos State”.
Okoli was previously arrested and detained in September 2023 over her review of a tomato product manufactured by Erisco Foods Limited.
“A team of policemen from Abuja who claim to be acting on the orders of the Inspector General of Police to re-arrest my client refused to serve us with a court order authorizing them to do so. The team from Abuja is being supported by policemen from the Ajiwe Police Station in Ajah”.
“The initial team that arrived at her residence called for a reinforcement after we demanded to see the court order authorizing them to rearrest her. They are currently trying to break into her house where she lives with her baby”
“This latest attack on Chioma is in connection with the ongoing case between my client and the police on the instigation of Erisco Foods Limited and its founder, Chief Eric Umeofia”.
On the 8th of November 2023 Justice Bogoro of the Federal High Court Lagos made a subsisting order after a fundamental rights suit filed against IGP and the Nigeria Police Force against arresting,rearresting or detaining Mrs Okoli except on the express order of a court of competent jurisdiction if she is served with a summons or arraignment notice and she fails to appear in it.
