Ugochinyere Accuses Imo Police Of Torture, Plot To Frame Him

A member of the House of Representatives representing Ideato North and South Federal Constituency, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, has called on the Inspector-General of Police and the Police Service Commission to investigate allegations of abduction and torture involving officers of the Imo State Police Command.

Speaking with Newsmen in Abuja, Mr Ugochinyere accused members of the police Tiger Base unit of targeting his constituents.

He alleged that several individuals had been unlawfully arrested and subjected to torture in a bid to implicate him in serious crimes, including terrorism, gun-running and murder, adding that one of the detainees had died in custody.

The lawmaker described the situation as “dangerous political madness” and warned it could lead to a constitutional crisis if not urgently addressed.

He further accused the police unit of operating as “a private army”, claiming it was being used to intimidate opposition figures and create fear ahead of future elections.

Mr Ugochinyere also raised concerns over what he described as a coordinated attempt to deregister opposition political parties through the courts before the 2027 general election.

He listed the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Accord Party, Action Peoples Party, APP, and Zenith Labour Party, ZLP, among those allegedly targeted, warning that such a move could trigger political unrest.

According to him, the plan was designed to prevent opposition candidates, including Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, from participating in the coming elections.

“You cannot deregister political parties a few months to elections and expect Nigerians to fold their arms,” he said.

Mr Ugochinyere, however, welcomed a decision by the Court of Appeal to halt proceedings in a case seeking the deregistration of some political parties, describing it as a step towards safeguarding democracy.

He also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, not to appeal a recent Federal High Court ruling on the electoral timetable, warning that doing so could create uncertainty and erode public confidence in the process.

The lawmaker called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, judicial authorities and security agencies to ensure that democratic institutions are protected and not used to undermine political opposition.

He also warned against what he described as attempts by “desperate politicians” hiding under the guise of loyalty to the president to weaken Nigeria’s democracy.

Oduyemi Odumade, Edited By Grace Namiji