Oct 20 protest for Nnamdi Kanu: Uwazuruike takes Imo Police to court over invitation *Demands N10m as damages

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By Madu Obi

The founder of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and leader of the Biafra Independence Movement (BIM), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, has instituted legal action against the Imo State Police command and the Nigeria Police Force over what he described as a politically motivated invitation aimed at curtailing his fundamental rights.

Uwazuruike's invitation came eight days after he announced his preparedness to join the planned peaceful protest on October 20 to demand the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

The suit, filed at the High Court of Imo State, Owerri Judicial Division, seeks the enforcement of his fundamental rights to liberty, freedom of movement, and peaceful assembly as guaranteed under Sections 35, 41, and 46 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Articles 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap 10, LFN 1990.

Respondents in the case filed through his counsel, Mr. M.O. Anyanwu, are ACP Oladimeji Odeyiwa (Commander, Tiger Base, Owerri), ASP John Ebute, ASP Eze Jet, Inspector Alice Zakari, the Commissioner of Police Imo State Command, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Police Service Commission.

In the originating motion, Uwazuruike is seeking, among other reliefs:

* A declaration that the police invitation dated October 16, 2025, directing him to appear at the Anti-Kidnapping Unit (Tiger Base), Owerri, on October 20, 2025 — the same day slated for the nationwide peaceful protest demanding the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu — constitutes a gross violation of his constitutional rights to liberty and freedom of movement.

* An order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents and their agents from further harassing, inviting, or attempting to arrest or detain him over what he described as a “concocted allegation” of criminal invasion, forgery, and willful damage.

* An order of compensation mandating the respondents jointly and severally to pay the sum of ₦100,000,000 (One Hundred Million Naira) as general damages for the violation of his fundamental rights.

In his supporting affidavit, Uwazuruike said that he had lived peacefully in Owerri for years without any police invitation until after his public declaration on October 8, 2025, to join the peaceful protest for Nnamdi Kanu’s release.

According to him, the sudden invitation, delivered to his residence on October 16, was clearly intended to prevent his participation in the October 20 rally.

“I have not committed any offence by volunteering to join a peaceful protest. The invitation is a mere ploy to arrest, detain, and intimidate me because of my public stand for peace and justice," Uwazuruike stated in the affidavit.

His counsel, in a written address to the court, argued that the police invitation violates the provisions of Sections 35 and 41 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantee personal liberty and freedom of movement, adding that the timing of the letter “reveals a deliberate intent to restrict the Applicant’s civic and constitutional rights.”

“The action of the police, coming just days after Uwazuruike’s press statement in support of a peaceful protest, is unconstitutional, unlawful, and a blatant attempt to silence a voice of peace,” his lawyer said.

No date has, however, been fixed for the hearing of the case.