A human rights organization under the aegis of Lawyers in Defence of Democracy and Human Rights (LDDHR) on Tuesday protested against the continued detention of a banker, Chinenye Duru by the police despite three court orders that he should be freed.
Copies of the court orders for his release from detention were obtained by journalists in Abuja on Tuesday.
Among other offenses, Duru was said to have incurred trouble when he challenged his Pastor over alleged politicization of the church and directive that members should support one political party.
He also uncovered alleged misuse of funds by the Pastor of his church, promoting him to leave.
Another issue which Duru kicked against was alleged politicization of the church by his Pastor who had to suspend members who voted for a political party in the last election.
His lawyer and Convener of LDDHR, Kingdom Okere, told journalists that since December 11 2023, he has been kept in unlawful custody, despite three several court orders.
He therefore called on the Inspector General of Police “to urgently intervene in the atrocity going on at th Special Investigation Unit (SIU) Zone 4 of the Nigerian Police Force, Abuja, in line with the administrative policy of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to govern within the ambits of Rule of law.”
Okere accused the policeman handling the case of allegedly “turning to a monster, taking the laws into his hands, constituted his office to a court of law and giving counter orders that breaches the fair hearing provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
He said, “From information available to us, it is clear that Mr. Chinenye Duru was not just an account officer to his Pastor. He also handled most of his business transactions. Duru is a reputable banker..He was also a member of the church.
“They both enjoyed very rosy and cordial spiritual and business relationship until Duru stumbled on confessions and revelations on the alleged atrocities committed by his former spiritual father on his victims.
“Duru was so psychologically troubled that he confronted his spiritual father with the information and his reactions showed clearly that what was alleged was a fact too difficult for a true Christian and believer to condone, which led to his leaving the Church as he could not sincerely pretend that evil is good.
“Consequently, Duru requested for an account reconciliation meeting which his Pastor refused, but rather insisted he must ensure that Duru loses his in the bank. Hence he petitioned the bank leading to EFCC invitation to investigate the matter, and when the Reverend could not achieve his aim as the bank and EFCC insisted in following due process and the rule of law to dispassionately investigate the petitions, he hired a retired AIG to help him use the instrumentality of the Nigerian police to persecute Duru by ordering the Police to detain and torture him without bail or charging him to court for over one month now since December 11 2024.
“The rule of law which President Tinubu’s administration promised Nigerians and the world is being frustrated by some officers of the Nigerian police against the ethos of the current IGP by disobeying three court orders to grant Duru bail and produce him in court in flagrant disobedience of orders of competent courts of the land thereby sending wrong signals to the international community that Nigeria is a lawless country.
“Lawyers in Defence of Democracy and Human Rights insist that democracy must be firmly rooted in Nigeria and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria must at all times be obeyed and respected. Sections 4, 5 and 6 of chapter four of the 1999 constitution are clear on how an accused person must be treated.
“An accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction and cannot be detained more than allowed by the constitution, unless with order of the Court.”
Friday Olokor
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