IGP vs Ijele: Our Client Coughing Up Blood in Prison Custody, Lawyers Raise Alarm

Chizorom Harrison Ofoegbu, known as Ijele, is in critical condition at the Nigeria Correctional Centre (NCC) in Ikoyi, Lagos, after coughing up blood, his lawyers revealed on Wednesday.

Detained since March 19, 2024, Ijele was arrested by the Nigeria Police Force over a civil dispute and is facing charges of cybercrime and criminal defamation brought by the police on behalf of Evangelist Ebuka Obi’s Zion ministry in Lagos.

His lawyers, Deji Adeyanju & Partners, expressed their concern in a statement signed by Silas Onwugbonu, Esq., indicating that Ijele’s health has significantly deteriorated without access to proper medical care. They accused the police of filing three identical charges against Ijele in different courts, describing it as ‘persecution’.

Despite the Federal High Court in Lagos granting Ijele bail on June 14, 2024, the police allegedly attempted to transfer him to Awka, Anambra State, on a criminal summons, obstructing the bail process.

The lawyers urged the Inspector General of Police to respect court orders and cease the persecution of Ijele, emphasizing his constitutional presumption of innocence.

“A few days ago, our attention was drawn to the fact that our client, currently detained at the Nigeria Correctional Centre (NCC) in Ikoyi, Lagos State, is gravely ill. As of the time of issuing this public statement, our client’s health condition has deteriorated to the point of coughing up blood, with no medical facilities available to restore his health within the NCC, Ikoyi.

“As our client’s health continues to deteriorate by the hour, we call on the Inspector General of Police to direct its officers to respect court orders and desist from further persecution of our client, who enjoys constitutional presumption of innocence. A dead defendant cannot stand trial.

“We wish to draw the attention of the general public to the deteriorating health condition of our client, Mr. Chizorom Harrison Ofoegbu (Ijele), who has been detained since March 19, 2024, at the instance of the Nigeria Police Force, over a purely civil dispute.

“The Nigeria Police Force must refrain from making itself available as an interventionist in civil disputes between citizens.”