The Nigeria Police Force has filed a formal appeal seeking to overturn a coroner’s ruling that recommended the prosecution of two officers over the death of 32-year-old security guard Japheth Njoku in custody at the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, popularly known as Tiger Base, in Imo State.
In a Notice of Appeal lodged on October 26, 2026, at the High Court of Imo State, Owerri Judicial Division, State Legal Officer C.P. Okpaleke is acting on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Imo State, Inspector Barnabas and CSP Oladimeji. The appeal targets the September 30, 2026, findings of Chief Magistrate E.U. Chinaka.
The coroner had recommended the prosecution of Inspector Barnabas and CSP Oladimeji for extortion and corruption. He also held that the poor conditions at Tiger Base contributed to Njoku’s death.
The police challenge rests on three grounds. First, they argue that the coroner acted beyond his powers by treating the inquest as a criminal trial. They maintain that a coroner’s inquest is limited to determining the cause of death and cannot make findings of criminal guilt or order civil remedies.
Second, the force alleges a misreading of the medical evidence. It cites the official post-mortem report by Dr. Amadi D.C., which listed the cause of death as meningitis, bronchial pneumonia and hypertensive heart disease. The police contend that the magistrate wrongly attributed the death to torture and extra-judicial killing despite the pathology findings of natural disease.
Third, they claim a breach of fair hearing, arguing that the coroner’s recommendations relied on uncorroborated hearsay and failed to meet the required standard of proof.
The appeal asks the High Court to set aside the entire ruling, including the directives for prosecution and any order of compensation to the Njoku family.
Njoku was arrested on March 29, 2025, on an allegation of stealing goods at Alaba Market. He was held for about six weeks without being charged or granted bail. The coroner found that Inspector Barnabas demanded ₦500,000 for police bail and that the demand prolonged the detention. The court described the police claim that Njoku was a terrorist as a fabrication designed to justify an illegitimate system of prolonged detention for extortion. Testimony at the inquest described severe overcrowding, with one witness saying more than 45 suspects were held in a single cramped cell.
Human rights groups had welcomed the coroner’s findings. Amnesty International called on the Imo State Attorney-General to prosecute the officers and urged the police to transfer personnel from the unit and install CCTV in detention facilities. The Network of Human Rights Lawyers and the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) also urged broader action under the Anti-Torture Act 2017.
Counsel for the Njoku family, Dr. C.C. Nwadigo, confirmed receipt of the notice of appeal. He said the family would defend the coroner’s report and pursue a separate civil suit against the officers involved.
The appeal is expected to be assigned to a High Court judge in the coming weeks.
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