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The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) on Monday condemned the indefinite and secret detention of Onyemaechi Fabian Chizaram, an employee of Fidelity Bank in Aba, Abia State, allegedly by the Department of State Security (DSS).
In a statement by the group’s director, Okechukwu Nwanguma noted that Onyemaechi’s family reported that he was arrested on January 10, 2025, and has remained unaccounted for since then.
Nwanguma said Onyemaechi’s absence was first noted when he failed to return home from work on January 10. Inquiries by his father at Fidelity Bank revealed he was arrested by police and directed to seek information from the Zone 9 police headquarters and the DSS office in Umuahia. Both entities denied holding him.
“On January 17, some persons who identified themselves as DSS operatives returned Onyemaechi briefly to his family home before taking him back into custody, denying further access to him.
The RULAAC director stated that reports indicate that Onyemaechi is currently being secretly held at the DSS office in Shangisha, Lagos. His family and legal representatives remain unaware of the charges against him, and he has been unlawfully detained for over 17 days without bail or charges.
Violation of Rights
Mr Nwanguma said that the detention without charge or bail contravenes established legal norms, including the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, which mandates that a detainee’s family must be informed of their arrest and the reasons for it.
RULAAC firmly denounces this arbitrary arrest and unlawful detention. We call on the DSS to immediately release Onyemaechi Fabian Chizaram and uphold the rule of law. Law enforcement agencies must adhere to legal procedures and respect the rights of individuals.
