A serving police sergeant, Peter Ezugwu, has been detained at Zone 13 Headquarters, Ukpo, in Anambra State, on a civil matter, involving him and estranged wife, Ebere Ezugwu.
The detained officer was invited by the Deputy Commissioner of Police and locked up, following a petition by his wife, who accused him of kidnapping his own children.
A confidential source told Daily Sun that the detained officer, who is also a lawyer, cited a pending case on the matter instituted by his estranged wife before High Court 4 in Onitsha, Anambra State, seeking the dissolution of their six-year old marriage.
Ezeugwu’s wife, a banker, had dragged him to the court seeking the dissolution of their marriage due to irreconcilable differences.
A family member expressed shock that the police at Zone 13 involved themselves in a civil matter bothering on marital discord, which was already before the court, and unlawfully detained a serving policeman and lawyer.
A human rights advocate, Mr Chidi Eke, said the arrest and detention of Mr Ezugwu was an illegality perpetrated by the police against their colleague, warning that a serving policeman could only be detained on the grounds of criminal matters or insubordination to his superiors.
He explained that the matter for which Ezugwu was harassed and detained was not a criminal act, but a civil matter for which the petitioner could seek redress in court.
He warned that legal action would be taken against the Police if they refuse to release the lawyer immediately.
One of Ezugwu’s family members said his brother was humiliated and incarcerated because of frivolous petition by his estranged wife, who accused him of kidnapping his own children.
He noted that the paternity of the children was never in doubt and described the petitioner’s claim as laughable.
He frowned at the position taken by the police on the matter even when it has been established that Ezugwu and the petitioner were married.
The family source, who pleaded anonymity, said his brother has a legitimate source of livelihood as a serving policeman and lawyer, and cannot be forced to relinquish the custody of his own children, using coercion and intimidation.
He said Ezugwu has been providing for the upkeep of the children, after the collapse of the marriage, but his estranged wife decided to use the children to blackmail him and extort money from him at will.
Efforts made by our reporter to speak with the Police Public Relations Officer, Anambra State Command, on the matter was unsuccessful as his number was unreachable.