Law Firm Petitions Cross River Police Commissioner Over Alleged Brutality of Client.

Law Firm Petitions Cross River Police Commissioner Over Alleged Brutality of Client.

A Cross River law firm, Sunny Mgbe and Associates, has filed a formal petition with the State Commissioner of Police, Gyogon Grima, alleging the brutalization, torture, and disfigurement of their client, Mr. Ogo Ichire, by police officers in Ikom Local Government Area.

The petition, dated November 6, 2024, accuses officers under the command of the Police Area Commander in Ikom, ACP Franklin Akanonu, of subjecting Mr. Ichire to severe physical abuse. The firm stated that the assault resulted in significant bodily harm, including internal injuries and a fractured humerus.

According to the petition, Mr. Ichire was arrested on October 3, 2024, allegedly tied with ropes, gagged, and thrown into the trunk of a car reportedly owned by one Mr. Moses Uwaeme, with whom there had been a prior dispute involving forgery of a lease agreement. The victim was allegedly transported in this condition to the Area Command Office in Okuni-Ikom, where he was further assaulted and detained without food or water for five days.

“Our client was brutally beaten, kicked while bound, and left with serious injuries. He was later hospitalized at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, where he received treatment for a split humerus and other injuries,” the firm stated in its petition.
The letter further alleges that these acts of brutality occurred under the supervision and approval of ACP Akanonu. Photographs of the injuries and a medical report from the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (Reference No. PT 181340, dated October 22, 2024) were attached to the petition as evidence.

Sunny Mgbe and Associates have called for a thorough investigation into the matter and urged the Cross River State Police Command to take immediate action against the perpetrators.