By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

An Anambra State based panel beater, Mr. Friday Onyeobi, has dragged the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, Anambra State Police Commissioner, CP Aderemi Adeoye, Commander, Special Anti Cultism Squad (SPACS), Obosi, to an Onitsha High Court, over alleged infringement on his fundamental human rights.

He said he was not only arrested but was detained and tortured for five days, July 4 to July 8 2023.

Onyeobi, who is an indigene of Nsugbe, Anambra East Local Government Area of the state, in his reliefs through his lawyer, Barr. Callistus Mmagu, demanded for the sum of N25 million compensation.

He said the money will cover both general and exemplary damages.

His Counsel prayed the Court to declare that the arrest, torture, and detention of his client at SPACS, Obosi, constituted a “gross violation of his fundamental rights to dignity of human person, personal Liberty and freedom of movement.”

Onyeobi also pleaded with the Court to grant an injunction restraining the respondents, their agents, servants, privies, and hirelings from further arrest, detention, harassment and his intimidation as well as make other orders as the court might deem fit.

The panel beater was said to have been arrested when a Toyota Rav-4 jeep with registration number KSF776CQ bought, refurbished and entrusted to him to sale by his friend, Mr. Esiobi Okwudili, was stolen from where it was parked at Omagba Phase11, Onitsha on June 19, 2023.

Esiobi who procured the services of SPACS, Obosi, had earlier taken Onyeobi to two native doctors at Nsugbe and Awkuzu both in Anambra State.

The Anti Cultism squad, said Onyeobi's lawyer, chained his left hand with his left leg, and right hand with his right leg were tied together.

Onyeobi's lawyer added: "They hung him on pole like a goal post, where they loaded four six inches solid blocks on his back, forcing him to confess that he stole the vehicle, so that he would be released.

"When he refused to agree with them, Onyeobi was brought down but he was already at the point of death especially when they loaded the fourth block on him.

"He was later released on bail after extorting twenty thousand naira (N20,000) from him."

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