Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.Custody
An Imo State coroner has recommended the prosecution of two police officers attached to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, popularly known as Tiger Base, in Owerri, over alleged extortion and corruption linked to the death of 32-year-old Japheth Njoku in police custody.
The recommendations were made by Chief Magistrate E. U. Chinaka following a coroner’s inquest into Njoku’s death on or about May 5, 2025. The findings were delivered on September 30, 2026, and called for the prosecution of Inspector Barnabas and CSP Olademeji, the unit’s officer in charge, before a court of competent jurisdiction.
According to reports of the proceedings, Njoku was arrested on March 29, 2025, over an allegation of stealing goods at Alaba Market. He was subsequently detained at Tiger Base for approximately six weeks without being charged to court or granted bail.
The coroner found that demands for money contributed to his continued detention. Inspector Barnabas was alleged to have demanded ₦500,000 as police bail, while a further ₦300,000 was reportedly demanded for the complainant in the underlying case.
The court rejected an explanation that Njoku had been denied bail because he was suspected of terrorism. It said the officers failed to produce the alleged confession and described the terrorism claim as fabricated to conceal what it characterised as extortion and corruption.
The coroner further found that the prolonged detention and the inhuman conditions in which Njoku was held contributed to the deterioration of his health and eventual death.
An autopsy report presented during the inquest listed meningitis, bronchial pneumonia and hypertensive heart disease as causes of death. However, the medical pathologist did not testify during the proceedings.
Evidence presented to the inquest also raised concerns about overcrowding and poor sanitary conditions at the facility. Njoku’s brother, Uchechukwu Njoku, reportedly told the court that the family had been denied access to him for an extended period and that Njoku had complained about the condition of the cell.
Another witness, Basil Ekenyere, alleged that more than 45 suspects were held in an overcrowded cell. He also told the court that he had paid money in connection with his own release.
Beyond recommending prosecution, the coroner called for the immediate transfer of officers serving at the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, adequate compensation for Njoku’s family and payment of his burial expenses by the unit.
The court also recommended the installation of closed-circuit television cameras in police detention facilities, the establishment of a special unit to monitor their operation and improved training for police investigators on lawful detention under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and the Police Act.
The Inspector-General of Police and the Imo State Commissioner of Police were urged to ensure that the recommendations were implemented within three months.
The case has renewed scrutiny of the conduct of officers at Tiger Base. In February 2026, Amnesty International published a report documenting allegations of unlawful detention, extortion, torture and other human rights violations at the facility.
Amnesty International has since called on the Imo State Attorney-General and relevant police authorities to act on the coroner’s findings, ensure accountability and provide an effective remedy for Njoku’s family.
The recommendation for prosecution does not mean the officers have been convicted. Any criminal charges would have to be determined through the courts, where the allegations against them would be subject to due process.
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