One of the traditional chiefs laying claim to the Eze royal stool of Eziama Ikeduru Autonomous Community in Imo State, Chris Obasi, was detained for eight days at the Tiger Base Division of the Imo State Police Command despite a court order securing his release.
Obasi was arrested around 8pm on May 14 at his residence on Graceland Estate, Ajah, Lagos, and was subsequently taken to the police facility in Owerri.
According to the command’s spokesperson, Henry Okoye, the arrest was linked to allegations of “cyber stalking and inciting civil unrest.”
However, Obasi’s sister, Adaeze Francis, told newsmen that the real issue stemmed from an ongoing kingship dispute between Obasi and his cousin, Charles Amadi.
She explained that Obasi, the only son of the late traditional ruler and direct heir to the throne, had faced relentless opposition since his enthronement.
“The trouble began as soon as he became king. They’ve been dragging him to court over one issue or another,” she said.
Francis revealed that a court hearing in the kingship matter had initially been slated for Friday, May 16, 2025, but was later postponed to Tuesday, May 27.
However, the police officers from the Tiger Base stormed Obasi’s Lagos residence and took him away to Owerri two days before the original suit date.
In response, Obasi’s legal counsel, Prof. Francis Dike, SAN, filed a suit on Tuesday at the Federal High Court, Owerri, challenging his detention.
The Nigeria Police Force, the Imo State Commissioner of Police, the Officer-in-Charge of the Tiger Base, and Amadi were listed as the 1st to 4th respondents in the case registered FHC/OW/FHR/41/2025.
The legal team sought an interim injunction compelling the respondents to release Obasi pending the determination of a motion on notice for the enforcement of his fundamental human rights.
Justice I.N. Oweibo granted the injunction and adjourned the matter to June 10, 2025.
But report indicated that Obasi was not freed until around 3pm on Thursday, two days after the ruling.
When contacted, police spokesperson, Okoye attributed the delay to “administrative procedures.”
“The court may give an order today, but processing the file down to the investigating unit takes time.
“If it gets to the CP’s office the following day, he must review it before it reaches the unit handling the case. So, it’s all a matter of internal process,” he said.
The Punch
