A human rights lawyer, Sir Ifeanyi C. Ejiofor, has strongly criticized the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) for allegedly overstepping its constitutional mandate by arresting and detaining a woman over a private financial dispute instigated by her husband.
In a statement issued on Sunday, March 30, 2025, Ejiofor reiterated that the police are not a debt recovery agency, citing statutory laws and judicial precedents that prohibit law enforcement from intervening in civil financial matters.
Ejiofor referenced Section 4 of the Nigeria Police Act, which outlines the duties of the NPF, noting that it does not authorize involvement in debt recovery. He also cited judicial rulings, including Kure v Commissioner of Police (2020) LPELR-49378(SC) and Madaki & Anor v GTB & Anor (2022) LPELR-57419(CA), which affirm that the police cannot be used to settle private financial disputes.
According to Ejiofor, officers from the Monitoring Unit of the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in Abuja unlawfully arrested, brutalized, tortured, and detained Mrs. Joy Smart Chinenye on March 28, 2025.
Her arrest reportedly stemmed from a petition by her legally married husband, Mr. George Obinna Smart Unaegbu, who accused her of failing to repay money he had given her for forex trading. Instead of seeking legal redress through civil channels, Unaegbu allegedly used the police to forcefully recover the debt.
Ejiofor claimed that officers stormed the couple’s Lagos residence, arrested Chinenye in the presence of their children, and detained her at the FCID Annex, Panti.
“There, she was coerced into transferring ₦5 million to her husband’s account,” Ejiofor stated. “When she was unable to commit to an additional ₦10 million, she was forcibly taken to Abuja and detained at the notorious Abattoir detention facility, a holding ground for hardened criminals.”
In her absence, Ejiofor further alleged, Unaegbu relocated their children and seized her personal belongings.
Ejiofor pointed out that the Nigeria Police Service Commission (NPSC) and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) have issued clear directives prohibiting officers from engaging in land disputes, arrests by proxy, and debt recovery. However, the officers involved allegedly ignored these directives, prioritizing private financial interests over their legal duties.
Ejiofor urged the Inspector General of Police to order the immediate and unconditional release of Mrs. Joy Smart Chinenye. He also called for a thorough investigation into the alleged abuse of power and the sanctioning of all officers involved to prevent future misconduct.
While considering legal action, Ejiofor stressed the need to bring the case to public attention to prevent further violations of the rule of law. He emphasized that the Nigerian police must not be used as a tool for personal disputes, especially in a case involving the mistreatment of a mother on Mothering Sunday.
This incident, he noted, directly contradicts recent warnings from top police authorities against such unethical practices, which continue to tarnish the force’s reputation.
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