A damning new report by the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) has exposed what it calls a disturbing descent into authoritarianism under the administration of Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo.
According to the report, more than 40 traditional worshippers have been languishing in illegal detention for over 60 days without trial, under the direct orders of Governor Soludo. The detainees, the report alleges, are being held at a shadowy, non-state detention facility ominously known as the State Militias’ Lion House, located in Awka, the state capital.
The report, signed by Intersociety’s Lead Researcher and Chairman, Emeka Umeagbalasi, describes the arrests and prolonged incarceration as a gross violation of fundamental human rights, religious freedom, and Nigeria’s constitutional due process.
> “Governor Charles Soludo and his government, having woefully failed the litmus test of responsibility, human rights observance, and respect for freedom of religion or worship, have lost both legal and moral ground to continue holding these individuals,” the report stated.
Intersociety’s findings highlight the illegality of the detention, pointing out that even in cases involving capital offences, Nigerian law allows for no more than 60 days of pre-trial detention—a threshold the Anambra State government has long crossed without pressing charges or producing credible evidence.
The report also decries the use of “Remand Orders” and “Holden Charges” as a smokescreen for extrajudicial incarceration, stressing that the governor has no legal standing to detain individuals in militia-run facilities.
Among those detained are prominent traditional spiritual figures, including Chigozie Nwangwu (popularly known as “AKWA OKUKO TIWARA AKI”), Abuchi Ikechukwu Okafor, and Chijindu Nwaeze. The detainees, the group said, were falsely accused of engaging in “fetish and demonic religious practices” and violent crimes—labels that have not only defamed their reputations but also exposed them to public hostility and grave danger.
> “The over 40 detained native doctors have been illegally held, without investigation, formal charge, or court trial. As it stands, there is no valid case against them under the 1999 Constitution or the extant criminal laws of Nigeria,” the report insisted.
Intersociety called on the detainees’ families, legal representatives, and civil rights advocates to rise to the occasion and demand justice.
In a further bombshell, the group accused Governor Soludo of religious persecution, citing his controversial ban on open gospel preaching in Anambra State. During a March visit to Ochanja Market in Onitsha, Soludo reportedly declared that individuals found preaching openly would be arrested and fined N500,000.
Intersociety likened Soludo’s tactics to the draconian Decree 2 of 1984, a relic from Nigeria’s darkest days under military rule, which allowed for indefinite detention without trial.
> “This ban and the ongoing detentions are clear signs of a creeping dictatorship, reminiscent of the military regime’s tyrannical suppression of fundamental rights,” the organisation declared.
As local and international pressure builds, Intersociety has called for the immediate and unconditional release of all detained traditional worshippers. The group also urged the Nigerian Bar Association, civil society organisations, and the global human rights community to hold Governor Soludo’s administration accountable for what it described as a blatant abuse of power.
The revelations have sent shockwaves through Anambra and beyond, as critics warn that freedom of worship and rule of law in the state are under siege. Whether Governor Soludo will bow to growing demands for justice or double down on his crackdown remains to be seen.
PIONEER NEWS 