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From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja
The Niger-Delta Civil Advocacy Group (NDCAG) has appealed to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, to urgently review the continued detention and prosecution of Managing Director of Chappal Energies, Ufoma Joseph Immanuel, amid concerns over his fundamental rights.
The group urged the AGF to ensure that Immanuel’s liberty and access to necessary medical care are protected in accordance with the Constitution and lawful court orders, while determining whether what it described as a private commercial dispute had been improperly transformed into a criminal justice matter.
NDCAG maintained that detention should not be used as a bargaining tool in a commercial dispute and asked the AGF to establish whether actions taken by law enforcement agencies in the case were consistent with existing court judgments and orders and whether there remained a sustainable criminal case against Immanuel.
The appeal was contained in a letter addressed to President Bola Tinubu and copied to the AGF, National Security Adviser, President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Dated September 1, 2026, the letter was signed by NDCAG President for Bayelsa State, Comrade Embale Jonathan; Secretary for Edo State, Hon. Omeiza Ogumah; Publicity Secretary for Rivers State, Comrade Ibinabo Boma; Hon. Lord Okoro of Delta State; Xavier Francis Udo of Akwa Ibom State; and Holy Austin of Cross River State.
According to NDCAG, the dispute involving Immanuel and businessman Adebisi Adebutu arose from commercial investment arrangements involving Chappal Energies Mauritius Limited, Intermediate and Investment Holdings Limited and R28 Limited, in connection with investments linked to the acquisition of Equinor Nigeria’s assets.
The group said the disputed issues included shareholding, subscription rights, investment obligations and financing arrangements.
NDCAG cited two court proceedings in support of its position.
It said an interlocutory order of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in a 2025 suit restrained the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Nigeria Police Force from arresting, detaining or prosecuting Immanuel in relation to the disputed commercial arrangements.
The group also cited a February 10, 2026 judgment of the Federal High Court in Lagos, which it said held that the EFCC’s publication declaring Immanuel wanted was unjustified and violated his fundamental rights.
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According to NDCAG, the court ordered the anti-graft agency to retract the publication and awarded N5 million in damages against it.
The group’s position and the court decisions cited, however, do not by themselves determine the separate criminal allegations being pursued by the EFCC, which remain subject to judicial determination.
NDCAG alleged that a petition by Adebutu triggered the EFCC proceedings and asked the authorities to examine whether any commercial interests stood to benefit from Immanuel’s continued absence from the management of the affected companies.
It also referred to alleged threats against Immanuel, including a purported threat to his safety if he refused to surrender shares, but acknowledged that the allegations remained unverified and called for an independent investigation.
The group further questioned the revocation of Immanuel’s bail on May 7, 2026, reportedly on grounds including concerns that he could be a flight risk or interfere with investigations.
It argued that Immanuel had voluntarily honoured an invitation from the Department of State Services (DSS) on March 3 and subsequently complied with a court order requiring him to surrender his Nigerian and British passports to the EFCC.
NDCAG consequently urged the AGF to determine whether the EFCC had complied with all relevant court orders and whether the criminal process was being used to exert pressure in what the group maintained was essentially a private commercial dispute.
It called for Immanuel’s release, subject to lawful conditions imposed by a competent court, if a review established that no sustainable criminal case existed against him.
The group also sought an explanation from the EFCC over its continued pursuit of the matter and urged the authorities to ensure that Immanuel receives adequate medical care while in custody.
It further called on the police and DSS to investigate the reported threats against him and his family.
NDCAG stressed that its intervention was not intended to interfere with judicial independence, but to ensure that executive agencies operate within the Constitution, obey lawful court orders and respect citizens’ fundamental rights.
