…..Transfer Of All Tiger Base Staff
A Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Owerri, the Imo State Capital has recommended the prosecution of Inspector Barnabas and the Commander of the Anti kidnapping Unit of the State Police Command, popularly called Tiger Base, CSP Oladimeji Odeyeyiwa, over alleged extortion, prolonged detention and other conduct linked to the death of one Jasper Njoku in police custody.
The recommendation is sequel to the conclusion of a coroner’s inquest into the death of Njoku who reportedly died while in the custody of the Tiger Base Unit.
Delivering its findings on Wednesday September 30 2026, the court presided over by Chief Magistrate E. U. Chinaka said evidence before it showed that Njoku had been detained for about six weeks over an allegation of stealing, an offence the court found to be bailable.
The court recommended that the Imo State Ministry of Justice should prosecute Inspector Barnabas and CSP Oladimeji for alleged extortion and corruption, saying their conduct allegedly contributed to the refusal to grant Njoku bail.
The court further recommended the transfer of all officers serving under the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, citing evidence of alleged overcrowding of cells and the extortion of money from suspects in connection with police bail.
According to the court’s findings, Njoku was arrested on March 29, 2025, over an allegation of stealing goods at Alaba Market. The court said evidence indicated that the allegation did not warrant prolonged detention without either granting bail or charging the suspect to court.
The court found that Inspector Barnabas had demanded N500,000 as police bail, while a further N300,000 was allegedly demanded for settlement of the complainant, Ugomore Oluchi Obiagwu.
The court said the failure to raise the money allegedly resulted in Njoku remaining in detention for about six weeks.
It further stated that, based on the evidence before the court, the Anti Kidnapping Unit subjected suspects to harrowing conditions that allegedly violated their rights to human dignity, personal liberty, legal representation and bail”.
“The Anti Kidnapping Unit has lost total sense of duty as police men and resorted to torture, intimidation and extortion,” the court stated in its findings.
The court also rejected, on the ground of evidence before it, the explanation that Njoku had been kept in custody because he was allegedly a terrorist.
Inspector Barnabas, who testified as a witness during the inquest, told the court that Njoku had been detained for about six weeks over allegations of stealing and conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace.
He said Njoku was not admitted to bail because Oladimeji, during a routine cell inspection, allegedly identified him as a terrorist. Barnabas further claimed that Njoku had confessed to being a terrorist.
However, the court noted that the alleged confession was not produced.
Barnabas also admitted that the purported confession was not recorded in compliance with Section 18(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
The court consequently found that the story that Njoku was a terrorist and had confessed to terrorism was allegedly concocted by Barnabas and Oladimeji to justify his continued detention and alleged extortion”, the court stated.
The court also rejected, based on the evidence before it, the explanation that Njoku’s continued detention was because he was allegedly a terrorist.
It directed that:
1. Inspector Barnabas and CSP Oladimeji should be prosecuted for alleged extortion and corruption.
2. All officers serving under the Anti-Kidnapping Unit should be transferred.
3. CCTV cameras should be installed in police detention facilities, with a special unit established to monitor their functionality.
4. Police investigators should receive adequate orientation on the provisions of the ACJA and the Police Act relating to detention.
5. The Anti-Kidnapping Unit should bear the full cost of Njoku’s burial.
6. The Imo State Police Command should pay adequate compensation to Njoku’s family for the alleged unlawful detention and its consequences.
7. The Inspector-General of Police and the Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, should ensure compliance with the recommendations.
The court directed that the recommendations be implemented within three months.
