The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to produce and hand over for prosecution officers of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) indicted in the abduction and disappearance of Mr. John Chukwuemeka Anozie, who was forcibly taken from his home in Lekki, Lagos, in June 2017.
In a landmark judgment delivered on September 24, 2025, in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/865/2025 — Mrs. Nnenna Anozie v. Inspector-General of Police — the court also directed the IGP to furnish the victim’s wife, Mrs. Nnenna Anozie, with copies of all investigation reports and the case file pertaining to her husband’s abduction and alleged death in police custody.
The court further ordered the police to forward the entire investigation file and legal opinion to the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) for immediate prosecution of the culpable officers.
In addition, the court awarded ₦2 million in damages to Mrs. Anozie for the police’s violation of her statutory right to information under the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) 2011, after the IGP failed to respond to multiple formal requests for the reports.
According to court records, Mr. John Chukwuemeka Anozie was abducted on June 17, 2017, from his residence in Lekki, Lagos, by operatives of SARS from Awkuzu, Anambra State. The officers allegedly seized two SUVs, briefcases containing local and foreign currencies, ATM cards, and the passports of his wife and children during the operation.
Despite a subsequent order by the Anambra State High Court directing the police to either release Anozie or charge him to court, he was never arraigned. The police later claimed he died in custody during interrogation, but they failed to comply with a further court order to release his body for burial — deepening suspicions of a cover-up.
Documents before the Federal High Court revealed that following a 2019 petition to the IGP by Mrs. Anozie, an internal investigation indicted several SARS officers.
A legal opinion issued by Mr. Tuesday Emienbo, then Officer-in-Charge of Legal at Force Headquarters, reportedly recommended the prosecution of ASP Anthony Obiozor Ikechukwu, SP Sunday Okpe, Sgt. Uzochukwu Emeana, John Eze, and one Oriole (popularly known as “T-Boy”).
However, no action was taken against the officers, despite the findings.
The case later came before the EndSARS Judicial Investigative Panel (2020–2022), where the panel summoned Mr. Ochogwu Ogbeh, then Commissioner of Police (Legal), to produce the case file. Ogbeh ignored the summons, even after the panel issued a warrant of arrest against him.
In 2023, the law firm of Falana & Falana Chambers petitioned the IGP to reopen the case and act on the existing investigation report. The police again failed to respond.
Frustrated by the continued silence, Mrs. Anozie, through her lawyer, Vincent Adodo, filed a Freedom of Information (FOI) request, demanding certified copies of the investigation report, case file, and legal opinion for submission to the Attorney-General’s office.
When the police still refused to comply, she approached the Federal High Court to enforce her right under the FOI Act. Despite being duly served with court processes and hearing notices, the police failed to enter any appearance or defence.
The court, in its judgment, held that the IGP’s failure to provide the requested information violated the applicant’s statutory right under the FOI Act and constituted an abuse of power.
Consequently, the court granted all the reliefs sought by Mrs. Anozie, including an order compelling the Inspector-General of Police to produce and surrender all SARS officers found culpable to the Attorney-General of the Federation for criminal prosecution.
The ruling marks a significant victory for families of victims of SARS brutality who have continued to demand justice years after the notorious police unit was disbanded.
While the police hierarchy has yet to issue an official statement in response to the court’s decision, legal observers describe the ruling as “a test of institutional accountability” for the Nigeria Police Force under the current administration.
The Anozie family’s lawyer, Mr. Adodo, praised the judgment as “a victory for truth, justice, and the rule of law.”
“For years, this family has been stonewalled by a system that protects rogue officers instead of prosecuting them. This ruling restores a measure of faith in the judiciary and the Freedom of Information Act,” he said.
As of press time, efforts by Chronicles Reporters to obtain comments from the Force Public Relations Officer were unsuccessful.