Ihuoma Julia Nneji has petitioned the Inspector Frequent of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, demanding a retraction, within 48 hours, of a “Wanted Person” declaration made on her on Tuesday by the Nigerian Police Power, via the National Cyber Crime Centre, Abuja (NPF NCCC).
Nneji moreover demanded a written apology by the NPF NCCC within identical duration.
She made the demands via her solicitors, Pillar-Rest Attorneys, who requested the legislation enforcement agency to state the removing of the Particular Police Gazette Bulletin declaring their client “Wanted”.
The letter by Nneji’s solicitors was as soon as entitled: “Order of Unlawful Public Declaration of Ihuoma Julia Nneji “Wanted” by The Nigerian Police Power National Cybercrime Centre Unit In Breach of Her Most distinguished Rights,” and dated 16th April, 2025.
Signed by Oyaje James Oyigoga Esq, the petition was as soon as namely addressed to the Inspector Frequent of Police (IGP), Power Headquarters, Abuja, via the Director, NPF, National Cyber Crime Centre, Abuja (NPF NCCC).
According to the solicitors, the declaration constitutes a breach of their client’s major rights protected by the structure of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and notification of linked to all platforms and media retail outlets where it’ll also merely were disseminated.
Diverse demands made by the solicitors in the letter include a written apology to the customer for the reputational injury, emotional trauma and illegal declaration by the police.
The letter moreover added that “a written undertaking that our client’s rights shall no longer be infringed upon”.
It added that “failure to comply with the above within the stipulated time will leave us with no option than to initiate appropriate legal proceedings to enforce our client’s fundamental rights, including, but not limited to, a claim for exemplary and general damages, and a motion for public retraction and injection. This, we will do without further recourse to your office”.
Describing the movement of the police as reckless, the legal professionals extra acknowledged that, old to the generally circulated e-newsletter, their client was as soon as neither invited for questioning nor informed of the allegation against her in detail, nor given any different in any admire to reply to any petition or complaint allegedly made against her.
They argued that, their client is a public determine who hails from a effectively respected residence and would perchance maybe merely moreover be reached by technique of her contact distinguished points family or lawful representatives.
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“This action taken by your office is a direct violation of our client’s constitutionslly guaranteed rights and is both unlawful and reckless”, the letter be taught.
The legal professionals extra distinguished in the letter that their client (Nneji) filed an movement against the petitioner, Barr Henry Uzochukwu (so took the topic to the Police) on Twenty ninth October, 2024 for defamation of her personality, which swimsuit is currently pending earlier than the court docket.
On the different hand, Nneji’s legal professionals pointed out that, the petitioner has likewise initiated a civil swimsuit against their client, which is currently pending earlier than the court docket. To which Nneji has moreover responded to.
They extra acknowledged that “Our client is a decent properly raised and law-abiding citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who has continued to conduct her personal and professional affairs with utmost decorum”.
“We are aware that the action of the Nigerian Police Force declaring our client wanted without inviting her or availing her an opportunity to be heard and respond to the allegations contained in the petition is a violation of her constitutional rights as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended)”.
It’d be recalled that the NPF declared Ihuoma Julia Nneji vital over alleged cybercrime, criminal defamation, and cyberstalking.
In a bulletin released slack Tuesday by the Nigeria Police Power National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC), the Power listed Nneji’s offences to include “criminal defamation, injurious falsehood, and cyberstalking.”
The consideration, shared on the NPF’s legit Facebook page, directed that she be arrested and handed over to the nearest police station or the NPF-NCCC headquarters in Abuja. Her remaining identified handle.
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