Abia Deputy Governor Sued Over Alleged Kidnap And Torture
The Deputy Governor of Abia State, Chief Ikechukwu Emetu has been dragged before the Abia State High Court in Uzuakoli over his alleged involvement in the violent abduction, physical torture and extortion of an indigene of Okagwe Ohafia, Hon. Arunsi Uduma Uguru.
In a multi-billion-naira fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by the applicant Hon. Uguru has asked N1 Billion in general damages to be awarded against the Deputy Governor and six others.
The other respondents who are all natives of Deputy Governor's seat town of Amaekpu Ohafia are Chidi Igu Uduma, Eke Daniel Urum, Ulu Nkata, Okorie Olugu, Ochu Kalu Agwu and Okpo Leonard. Eke Daniel Urum is the current Councilor for Isiama Ward in the Ohafia Legislative Council.
The applicant's counsel Anaga Kalu Anaga has filed a Motion on Notice before the High Court which is scheduled for hearing on July 17, 2026.
According to a 26-paragraph supporting affidavit sworn to at the High Court Registry on June 24, 2026, Hon. Uguru narrated a gruesome experience that happened on the Amaekpu to Okagwe Ohafia Road.
Uguru stated that the second to the seventh respondents ambushed and forcefully abducted him with dangerous and offensive weapons to a hideout in an unfinished building in the Amaekpu Community.
At the location, his hands and legs were tied with ropes as he was subjected to brutal physical and psychological torture. The gang alleged that Uguru had insulted the third respondent, Councilor Eke Daniel Urum.
While repeatedly slapping, kicking and striking him with sticks and fist blows, the abductors openly boasted that they had the explicit backing of the Deputy Governor, Chief Ikechukwu Emetu and that even the Nigeria Police could not do anything to them.
To further the human degradation, the assailants recorded the torture session on their mobile phones and streamed it live on the internet. The video recording of the event rapidly went viral across the internet.
Following the severe beating, which left Uguru bleeding in most parts of his body with serious bodily injuries, the gang locked him up in their private cell and demanded a ransom of N500,000 for his freedom. He was only released after his relations managed to raise and pay N100,000 to the abductors, who then warned him that they did not want to see him again in any part of their Amaekpu Ohafia Community.
The revelation in the court filings implicates the Abia State Deputy Governor directly for alleged complicity and willful inaction. Hon. Uguru stated that while trapped inside the uncompleted building, he managed to place a phone call directly to the Deputy Governor, Chief Ikechukwu Emetu, to narrate his ordeal at the hands of the individuals claiming to be operating with his support and backing.
Rather than ordering a rescue or calling the thugs to order, the Deputy Governor did not say anything. Desperate, the victim phoned the Traditional Ruler of his community, HRH Ezie Odum Amogu. The monarch immediately phoned the Deputy Governor, asking him to order the boys to stop the torture and release Uguru.
Despite the royal intervention, Chief Emetu did not take any action, allowing the violent detention and torture to continue until the N100,000 ransom was paid.
The lawsuit is accompanied by extensive evidence verifying the victim’s medical crisis. Following his release, Uguru was first admitted for medical treatment at Grace Touch Clinic in Umuahia and was subsequently referred to the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, for further treatment due to the severity of the injuries he sustained.
He was treated there for several weeks from November 10, 2025, under Treatment Sheet No. 638830. Official medical diagnostic reports from Abundant Grace Medical Laboratories and pharmacy invoices from Grace and Mercy Pharmacy were attached to the court documents to substantiate the critical injuries.
Uguru noted that he still suffers from extreme physical pain and has difficulty walking properly. Furthermore, the victim stated that his family has been undergoing severe trauma, noting that his children are referred to in their schools as children of a disgraced criminal because of the viral torture video circulated online by the culprits.
Despite a formal petition written on November 14, 2025, to the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 9 Command, Umuahia, the culprits have reportedly continued to threaten Uguru, making it impossible for him to go to Amaekpu village to visit his in-laws because his wife is from Amaekpu Village.
Through his legal team, Hon. Uguru is seeking a declaration that his forceful arrest, torture and detention by the respondents acting at the behest of the Deputy Governor is illegal and unconstitutional.
He is also demanding the sum of N1 Billion in general damages for unlawful arrest, humiliation and physical torture, alongside a public apology from the respondents for the violation of his rights. He wants a permanent injunction restraining the Deputy Governor, his co-respondents and their agents from further arresting, detaining, torturing, or threatening the applicant.