Credo Legal, a firm of solicitors and notary public, has commended the Inspector-General of Police for intervening in the arrest and detention of two clients, Engineer Leonard Uzoma and Mr. Ndubuisi Uchehara.
In a letter addressed to the Inspector-General of Police, the law firm said the IGP’s “prompt and decisive intervention” resulted in the release of the two men from the custody of officers of the Force Intelligence Department on Sunday, 26 July 2026.
According to the firm, Uzoma and Uchehara were travelling to the Imo State Police Command headquarters at about 4:30 p.m. on Friday, July 24, to honour a police invitation arising from a petition they had submitted as secretary and chairman of Bethel Court Estate, Agbala, Owerri.
The petition concerned the alleged malicious removal of the transformer serving the estate. Credo Legal explained that, during the investigation, a statement obtained from the estate’s security guard reportedly identified the estate developer, Mr Michael Igbo, as the person responsible for removing the transformer. The police invitation was consequently extended to Uzoma, Uchehara and Igbo to enable the police to question the parties and determine the circumstances surrounding, and the reason for, the transformer’s removal.
However, a few electricity poles away from the police headquarters, Uzoma and Uchehara were allegedly intercepted by persons who introduced themselves as officers of the Force Intelligence Department, Abuja.
The lawyers alleged that no arrest warrant, identification card or explanation was presented before the two men were handcuffed and taken to the New Owerri Police Station.
The firm said the arrest of the original complainants while they were on their way to cooperate with the police investigation, particularly after a witness statement had reportedly implicated the estate developer, raised serious concerns that the intervention by the FID officers may have been maliciously instigated, retaliatory and intended to turn the complainants into suspects.
The firm further claimed that Engr. Uzoma’s vehicle was left at the station before they were transported to Enugu State, detained overnight at a Police Station in Agbani and subsequently taken to Abuja the following morning.
According to the letter, the officers reportedly informed the men during the journey that they had been arrested following a petition by one Mr. Michael Igbo concerning alleged transformer vandalism.
The law firm said it contacted the Executive Director of the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre, RULAAC, Mr Okechukwu Nwanguma, who subsequently brought the matter to the attention of the Inspector-General of Police. It added that concerns were raised about the deteriorating health of Engineer Uzoma, prompting the IGP to direct the immediate release of both men through his Principal Staff Officer.
Credo Legal described the intervention as evidence that responsible police leadership requires swift action whenever law-enforcement powers appear to have been exercised arbitrarily. The firm said the development reassured its clients and members of the public that complaints of police misconduct could receive attention and that neither police officers nor private individuals should enjoy institutional protection for actions outside the law.
While expressing appreciation to the IGP, the lawyers called for an impartial investigation into the petition that led to the arrest, the officers and command structure involved, and the decision to transport the men from Imo State through Enugu to Abuja. The firm also urged the police authorities to investigate whether the arrest was intended to intimidate or victimise persons who were already complainants in a pending police investigation and fundamental-rights action.
Credo Legal maintained that professionalism, due process, respect for human dignity and adherence to the rule of law must remain central to policing in Nigeria.
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