By Abel Johngold Orheruata
The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has condemned what it describes as a gross miscarriage of justice following the abrupt discontinuation of a high-profile criminal case involving land grabbing, malicious damage, and attempted murder in Asaba, Delta State.
The case, with suit number CMA/334c/2024, was discontinued after a controversial withdrawal letter—allegedly from the police—was tendered in court without the knowledge or consent of the complainant. CDHR has called on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to urgently order the reinstatement of the case, warning that failure to do so could be seen as a conspiracy within the police to shield perpetrators.
According to CDHR, the original complaint was filed by one Godwin Ikechukwu after an alleged invasion of his property on July 23, 2024, in Issele-Azagba, near Wichtech Roofing Company in Oshimili North Local Government Area. Armed men, allegedly backed by police officers and linked to known land grabbers, reportedly destroyed property valued at over N200 million. A police orderly was also shot during the violent incident.
Ikechukwu’s petition led to police investigations and the eventual filing of charges at the Asaba Magistrate Court. However, midway through proceedings, the case was suddenly struck out following the submission of a withdrawal letter purportedly signed by a police prosecutor from the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
In a press statement issued in Warri on Tuesday, CDHR National President, Comrade (Dr.) Kehinde Prince Taiga, denounced the development as “absurd, ridiculous and a dangerous assault on the credibility of Nigeria’s justice system.”
“The police acted unjustly by discontinuing a case of such magnitude without informing or consulting the complainant. This raises serious questions about the integrity of the police force and its commitment to justice,” Taiga said.
He emphasized that the judiciary, already under public scrutiny, cannot afford to appear compromised, especially in cases involving the rights of ordinary citizens. “The police should have allowed the court to decide the matter on its merits. This premature withdrawal only fuels the perception that justice in Nigeria is for sale,” he added.
The withdrawal letter, dated April 22, 2025, and signed by one Rotshang Faith Dimka of the FCID Legal/Prosecution Section in Abuja, has come under suspicion, with CDHR demanding a full investigation into its authenticity. The group has urged the IGP to identify and prosecute any officers found culpable in issuing a fake or unauthorized document.
“We urge IGP Egbetokun to not only reopen the case but also sanction any police counsel involved in this disgraceful cover-up. If unchecked, this will only embolden corrupt elements within the police to continue trampling on the rights of law-abiding citizens,” the statement concluded.