Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Nigeria Police Force has finally forwarded the investigation report and legal advice on the disappearance of Mr. John Chukwuemeka Anozie, who was allegedly abducted by operatives of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad in 2017, to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, marking a partial compliance with a Federal High Court judgment delivered nearly 10 months ago. The development was disclosed during proceedings in the contempt case filed against the Inspector-General of Police in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/865/2025 between Engr. Nnenna Anozie and the Inspector-General of Police, which came up on Friday, July 24, 2026, before Justice Binta F.M. Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja. According to a press statement issued by the applicant's counsel, Vincent Adodo, the court drew his attention to a Notice of Compliance filed by counsel to the Inspector-General of Police, Stanley Nwodo, stating that the case file containing the legal advice and investigation report had been forwarded to the Attorney General of the Federation in compliance with part of the court's judgment delivered on September 24, 2025.
The case dates back to June 17, 2017, when Mr. John Chukwuemeka Anozie was allegedly abducted from his residence in Lekki, Lagos, by officers of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad from Awkuzu, Anambra State. According to court records and testimonies, the operatives made away with two SUV vehicles, briefcases containing foreign and local currencies, international passports of his wife and children, ATM cards, and sundry belongings. An order of the Anambra State High Court directing the police to either release him from custody or alternatively arraign him in court was flouted by the police, as he was never arraigned. The police later claimed he died in custody during interrogation, but another order of the Anambra State High Court for his corpse to be released to his family for burial was again disobeyed, as his corpse was never released to his family for burial till date.
In 2019, Anozie's wife petitioned the Inspector-General of Police over the matter, pursuant to which the IGP caused an investigation to be conducted. Some officers were indicted and indeed arrested for the egregious acts leading to the disappearance and presumed death of Mr. Anozie. The O/C Legal at the police force headquarters then, Mr. Tuesday Emienbo, had rightly in his legal opinion, recommended the officers for prosecution. However, nothing happened. The case was also brought before the EndSARS Investigative Panel during its proceedings which lasted between 2020 and 2022, and the Panel ordered the then Commissioner of Police Legal, one Mr. Ochogwu Ogbeh, to appear before the Panel and produce the case file of the matter, but he flouted the order of the panel and refused to appear despite the warrant of arrest issued against him. In 2023, the law firm of Falana & Falana petitioned the IGP to reopen investigation into the matter, but nothing was done.
Having waited endlessly without hope of getting justice for her husband, Mrs. Anozie, through her lawyer, Vincent Adodo, made a request to the IGP under the Freedom of Information Act 2011 for copies of the investigation reports, case file and legal opinion issued by Mr. Tuesday Emeniebo to be furnished to her and to be forwarded to the office of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation. The IGP failed to respond to the request, prompting the filing of the suit. In a judgment delivered on September 24, 2025, Justice Binta Nyako ordered the IGP to hand over the four police officers to the office of the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation for prosecution, and to release relevant case files and investigative reports to the AGF office within seven days. The court also awarded the sum of N2 million as damages against the IGP for refusing the request of the plaintiff for the reports of investigations conducted by the police on her husband's abduction and disappearance.
While commending the Inspector-General of Police for complying with the aspect of the judgment requiring the transmission of the case file, the applicant's counsel, Vincent Adodo, noted that the police were yet to comply with other aspects of the judgment, including the release of the Certified True Copy of the duplicate case file to the applicant, the arrest of the officers accused of abducting her husband, their handover to the Attorney General for prosecution, and the payment of ₦2 million damages awarded by the court for violating the applicant's right to freedom of information. The applicant identified the principal suspects as ASP Anthony Obiozor Ikechukwu and Sergeant Ugochukwu Emeana. The case has drawn renewed public attention following allegations that the Nigeria Police Force has shielded officers allegedly responsible for the abduction and presumed death of Mr. Anozie. The family has vowed to continue the fight for justice until all aspects of the court's judgment are fully complied with and those responsible for the abduction are brought to account.
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