Family members of Godwin Francis Akpan, who was released by the Federal Finance Territory High Court, have taken a swipe at the authorities of the Nigerian police for continued detention of their son.
The family, through means of their lawyer, Edeh Uchenna, in a petition sent to the Inspector-Complete of Police, Tunji Disu, nevertheless, demanded rapid release of the detainee, arguing his essential rights are now being violated.
Daily Trust reports that Akpan’s detention arose from a police investigation involving a dispute in the midst of his employer and another organization – the material that was described as essentially a commercial or civil dispute.
A replica of the petition, which was obtained by our correspondent, showed that Akpan was detained in relationship using allegations of criminal conduct but had not been charged in advance of a court by the police.
The lawyer, who acknowledged that the police have legitimate powers to investigate alleged offences, argued that such powers must operate before the conclude of the framework of due handle, party liberty and respect for judicial authority.
The petition described a court sequence obtained by the family as an expression of judicial authority which, before lawfully collection aside, varied or stayed by a proficient court, requires compliance by those concerned.
He, accordingly, called for rapid compliance alongside the FCT High Court’s distribute organization, although urging that any outstanding investigative issues be pursued across lawful and plain procedures.
“We are not seeking immunity from analysis,” the family members said in the petition, adding that it was not asking any institution to determine the merits of the underlying commercial dispute externally the appropriate forum.
The petition additionally called for the constitutional and legal rights of Akpan and other affected persons to be respected, and for the underlying commercial and investigative issues to be handled by method of right legal and institutional channels.
Source: IGP petitioned over continued detention of man released by court
