Illegal Detention:  Uzodimma Critic Offers ‘Apology’ after  61 Days in Notorious Cell

Tony Icheku in Owerri

There was uneasy calm in Owerri, the Imo State capital, yesterday as family members and associates of Dr. Fabian Ihekweme, former Commissioner in the first term of Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, expressed anxiety over the fate of Ihekweme has spent  61 days in Tiger Base, the police detention centre in Owerri notorious for politically motivated arrests, torture, inhumane treatment of detainees held incommunicado, extortion, and enforced disappearances.

Ihekweme’s family and associates are uneasy as his whereabouts remain uncertain even as a mysterious letter began circulating on the social media early yesterday with no verifiable source. However, the pro-Uzodimma community newspapers and social media apologists are feasting on the letter and sharing it across social media platforms.

Efforts by THISDAY to ascertain the veracity of the letter met a stonewall as the Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Henry Okoye, refused to answer his calls or respond to SMS sent to his phone inviting him to react to the letter which has gone viral and to confirm the whereabouts of Ihekweme.

Furthermore the telephone lines of Ihekweme remained unreachable and calls to several human rights civil society organisations could not confirm whether Ihekweme is still incarcerated or has been released.

In the mysterious hand written letter dated January 27, 2025, , Ihekweme admitted that all the articles he wrote against Uzodimma were all fabricated lies with malicious intent and  tendered an unreserved apology to Uzodimma with an undertaking that he would never engage in such a ‘despicable behaviour’ henceforth.

”I hereby wish to categorically state that I regret writing all the inciting articles against the governor (Uzodimma), which are fallacious and unverifiable,” it stated.

Ihekweme also commended the police (which has held him in custody without charging him to court for 61 days) for their professionalism in investigating the matter.

Ihekweme, a former governorship candidate who later joined forces with Uzodimma in the 2019 governorship election, and was later  appointed a commissioner parted ways with the governor after the 2023 second term re-election of Uzodimma.

He later became a vocal critic of Uzodimma’s administrative style, and called for the governor to end his oppressive practice and  address  issues of transparency and accountability in governance in Imo State rather than hounding those advocating democratic governance.

Ihekweme was reportedly detained at his Abuja residence on November 27, in the presence of his family and transported to Owerri, Imo State, according to human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, who shared the information in a social media post on November 28, 2024

“Dr. Fabian Ihekweme, a critic, was abducted by policemen yesterday in front of his wife and children in their Abuja home and taken to Owerri. His crime: criticizing Hope Uzodimma, the Imo State governor,” Adeyanju alleged.

Adeyanju further criticised what he termed as an increasing clampdown on dissent, warning that such actions undermine democratic principles.

Ihekweme’s detention has ignited public backlash, with activists and political commentators accusing Governor Uzodimma’s administration of stifling opposition with a coalition of 13 Civil Society Organizations based in Imo State urging the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun to take decisive action, especially against rogue elements within the Anti-Kidnapping Unit (Tiger Base) and SID in Imo State to ensure that Police Forces act with integrity and do not become tools of state repression and tyranny.

“Utilizing the Anti-Kidnapping Unit at Tiger Base, and the State Investigation Department (SID) of the Imo State Police Command  Owerri,  Governor Hope Uzodimma has resorted to abduction-style tactics against perceived opponents, leading to prolonged detentions, remanding of individuals in prison, and deliberately stalling their trials to silence dissent and keep them out of public view.

“We urge the Inspector-General of Police and the police service commission (the external oversight body for the police) to take action against the misconduct of these rogue units and ensure accountability within the police force”, the CSOs had stated in a letter to the IG