Police officers face prosecution over death of 32-year-old man in Imo custody

An Imo State coroner has recommended the prosecution of two police officers over alleged extortion and corruption linked to the prolonged detention and death of 32-year-old Japhet Njoku.

According to SaharaReporters, Njoku died in May 2025 after spending about six weeks at the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, known as Tiger Base.

The court recommended prosecuting Inspector Barnabas and CSP Olademeji, the unit’s officer-in-charge.

“The said Inspector Barnabas demanded for bail sum which the deceased and his family could not afford. This was the exact reason why he was kept in detention for 6 weeks.”

The court rejected claims that Njoku was detained because he had been identified as a terrorist.

“It was the act of prolonged detention that caused the untimely death of the deceased.”

Authorities were given three months to implement the recommendations, including compensation for Njoku’s family and installing CCTV cameras in police detention facilities.