Lawyer Seeks IGP’s Intervention over Suspect’s Continued Detention Despite Court Order

Abuja, Nigeria - An attorney, Edeh Uchenna, has requested the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to step in regarding the ongoing detention of Godwin Francis Akpan, despite a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory's (FCT) order for his immediate release. In a petition dated September 24, 2026, the lawyer urged the Nigeria Police Force to adhere to the September 17, 2026 FCT High Court order, which mandates Akpan's release from police custody.

The attorney explained that Akpan's detention stemmed from a police investigation into a dispute between his employer and another company, which was essentially a commercial/civil disagreement.

According to the petition, Akpan was detained for alleged criminal conduct but had not been formally charged by a court. The legal practitioner acknowledged the police's lawful authority to investigate alleged offenses but emphasized that such powers must be exercised within the confines of due process, individual liberties, and judicial authority.

The petitioner stressed that a court order, until legally countermanded or stayed by a competent court, must be obeyed by all concerned parties. The attorney called for immediate compliance with the FCT High Court's release order while urging that any unresolved investigative concerns be addressed through lawful and transparent procedures.

The lawyer clarified that the petition does not seek to halt the police's investigation of the allegations against Akpan. Rather, it seeks to ensure that investigation and due process coexist, and that individual liberties are not sacrificed for the sake of a commercial disagreement. The attorney argued that the police may continue any lawful investigation, while courts can address matters properly brought before them, and that oversight institutions can examine complaints within their purview.

The lawyer also referenced the roles of the Police Service Commission and the Public Complaints Commission, stating that the former provides mechanisms for addressing police conduct complaints, while the latter deals with administrative excesses and procedural violations.

The attorney urged relevant institutions to utilize their respective offices to facilitate compliance with the court order, calm the situation, and encourage an orderly resolution of the outstanding issues. The lawyer stressed that the matter extends beyond Akpan's personal circumstances, touching on broader issues of individual liberties, responsible policing, judicial authority, professional accountability, access to justice, and public confidence in state institutions.

The petitioner appealed for the investigation, when legally required, to proceed; for all parties to be heard; for every right to be protected; and, most importantly, for the court order to be respected.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Governor of Abia State, Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Chairman of the Police Service Commission, and other relevant officials were copied on the petition. The attorney also attached a certified true copy of the FCT High Court order, dated September 17, 2026, and requested the IGP's urgent intervention.