Nigerian Court Releases Businessman Remanded In Prison To Allegedly Force His Worker To Withdraw Suit, Petition Filed For Attempted Murder

Tochukwu Nzekwe, Managing Director and CEO of Toshel Construction Ltd, has been released from prison custody after being arrested, arraigned, and remanded.

His detention was reportedly intended to pressure his staff into withdrawing a lawsuit and petition against one Donald Ekete and some police officers for attempted murder.

Nzekwe was initially remanded by Magistrate Chukwu Ani at the Enugu Maximum Custodial Centre of Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS). However, following media reports, Judiciary authorities compelled Magistrate Ani to discharge the remand order, leading to Nzekwe's release on Wednesday afternoon.

When SaharaReporters reached out to Nzekwe, he confirmed that he has been discharged and acquitted of all the charges.

"Yes, I have been released from prison. The same Magistrate Chukwu Ani who remanded me equally discharged me. I thank the media and SaharaReporters in particular who raised my voice and exposed evil in Enugu State Police Command and collaborating corrupt judges in their scheme," he said.

On September 30, SaharaReporters broke the news that Enugu Police Command had arrested, arraigned, and remanded Tochukwu Nzekwe, Managing Director of Toshel Construction Ltd, in a bid to force one of his truck drivers, Okechukwu Offor, to drop a legal action and petition against Donald Ekete and some police officers for attempted murder.

Nzekwe was arraigned on two counts - promoting local war and conspiracy - before Enugu North Magistrate Court, presided over by Magistrate Chukwu Ani, on September 26, 2024.

Mr. Ekete is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Eketeson Resources Nig Ltd., a rival company to Toshel Construction Ltd, owned by Mr Nzekwe.

SaharaReporters reported on June 3, 2024, how three policemen attached to Eketeson Resources Nig Ltd., one of the firms undertaking the rehabilitation of roads in Enugu State, brutalised the truck driver.

Following Enugu State Commissioner of Police Kanayo Uzuegbu's alleged refusal to investigate the attack and attempted murder of the truck driver, Ofor, the driver took legal action.

Through his lawyer, Sir OAU Onyema, Ofor petitioned Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun in July, which was then assigned to the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Enugu Annex for investigation.

Additionally, Ofor filed a lawsuit against the policemen involved, Mr. Ekete, and his company, Eketeson Resources Nig Ltd, seeking over N500 million in aggravated and general damages, highlighting the driver's determination to seek justice.

The policemen allegedly beat Ofor into a coma on the orders of Mr Ekete.

SaharaReporters has previously reported that immediately the AIG in charge of FCIID Enugu Annex requested the transfer of the case file from the Enugu State Police Command, CP Kanayo Uzuegbu allegedly asked the IPO to charge the driver and his boss, Mr Nzekwe, for malicious damages.

Nzekwe was issued an arrangement notice bordering on malicious damage.

But to his surprise, on September 26, 2024, he was abducted by policemen led by one "Lion-King". The police team dispossessed him of his phone, before detaining, assaulting and extorting him.

Mrs Nkoli, Nzekwe's wife, who narrated the incident to SaharaReporters, stated that her husband was called by CP Uzuegbu a day before the incident - September 25 - and assured him that the issues had been resolved.

She said, "My husband was told by Donald Ekete, the MD/CEO of Eketeson Resources, that no further action was needed, as road traffic officers had even sealed off the scratch on the newly laid asphalt occasioned by the driver.

"However, what happened next revealed a deeply troubling plot. My husband told me that he was unaware that he was being tracked by a group of men led by an individual known as “Lion-King,” who identified himself as an officer from the CP’s office in Enugu, accompanied by three police officers attached to Eketeson Resources Ltd.

"These men, alongside the police officers, illegally detained my husband (Mr. Nzekwe) at Oakland Hotels, where he had been lured under the pretence of a business meeting.

"Once there, my husband was ambushed, and his phone was forcibly seized to prevent him from contacting his lawyers or relatives. He was violently assaulted, abducted, handcuffed, and blindfolded. What an arrest!

"As his illegal detention escalated, he was swiftly arraigned before one Magistrate Chukwu Ani around 5:20 pm, same day of his arrest, with three fully armed police officers present in the courtroom, creating an intimidating atmosphere, making videos and taking his pictures in handcuffs."

She continued,: "Mr. Ekete’s personal lawyer, Mr Sunday Onyike, and a police prosecutor identified as Mr. Emmanuel Ajogwu, were present and they proceeded to take disturbing photos and videos of my husband during the arraignment under the watch of the presiding Magistrate. What a shame and corrupt magistrate.

"They mischievously proffered a charge that is unconnected with the malicious damage claim they had hitherto listed on his arraignment notice. They deliberately charged him for 'promoting native war,' an offence totally unconnected with the damage said to have been occasioned by his driver; which he was not personally involved in.”

"These mischievous schemers ensured that they got him remanded in custody, as the magistrate declined jurisdiction to entertain the matter," Mrs Nzekwe added.

In a shocking twist, she said Ekete demanded the sum of N28,350,000 for “my husband's release from his unlawful detention and incarceration in prison, claiming that it is the money CP said he should collect to make it possible for his release”.

She said, "They even went as far as furnishing to Chief Nzekwe an account details where he should send the money, which is: 0003075011; Access Bank; Sunday Onyike. It was later discovered that it is the account number of the counsel for Eketeson Resources Ltd.

"This incident raises serious concerns about corruption and abuse of power, involving both law enforcement officials and local political figures, in an attempt to use the instrument of the judiciary for extortion."

She however, revealed that the driver in question had worked with Eketeson Resources Ltd, but left the company for her husband's company because he was being owed six months' salary.

She said, "They were so aggressive on the driver that he sued Eketeson and his policemen for infringing on his fundamental rights, as taken out by one Enugu lawyer, Chief Sir OAU Onyema. Amongst the demand made to my husband is that he will pay the said N28million and also get his staff, the driver to withdraw the case."