Multiple Petitions and Jurisdictional Overlaps

The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), seeking the consolidation of multiple petitions and investigations involving a Lagos businessman, Mr. Timothy Chika Odoh, also known as Chika Onwa Odo. The advocacy group is also calling for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his repeated arrests and the seizure of his property.

In a follow-up petition dated October 7, 2026, and signed by its Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, RULAAC stated that complaints involving Odoh had been handled at different times by various police formations. These include the Zone 2 Command, SWAT/Adeniji Adele, FCID Annex Alagbon, and the Lagos State Police Command.

The complaints arose from allegations concerning telecommunications equipment and materials reportedly stolen from facilities associated with ATC Telecommunications. According to RULAAC, the central issue requiring the intervention of the IGP is whether these complaints represent separate criminal transactions or are substantially the same allegations repeatedly presented before different police formations. Mr. Odoh trades in used batteries and related materials.

Allegations of Victimisation and Property Seizure

RULAAC expressed particular concern over the recurring involvement of Mr. Uche Ozoigwe, a security manager associated with ATC Telecommunications, in the complaints against Odoh. Odoh alleged that Ozoigwe has threatened him since 2025, claiming he would use the police to have him imprisoned, force him out of the battery business, and destroy his livelihood.

While RULAAC noted that it could not independently verify these claims, it emphasized that the subsequent pattern of petitions and police interventions warrants an independent investigation.

RULAAC cannot independently verify this allegation, but the subsequent pattern of petitions and police interventions makes it deserving of independent investigation.

— Okechukwu Nwanguma, Executive Director, RULAAC

According to the petition, Odoh, his workers, associates, and wife have, at different times, reportedly been arrested in connection with the complaints. In one instance, police officers went to Odoh's residence and, upon finding him absent, arrested his wife and removed his vehicle. RULAAC's intervention subsequently led the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, to order her release, though the organisation alleged that the woman subsequently suffered the loss of her pregnancy.

Furthermore, RULAAC raised concerns over the continued retention of property allegedly seized from Odoh. Goods taken from him remain at the FCID Annex, Alagbon, while his vehicle and other goods are reportedly still in police custody at the Lagos State Command. Odoh also informed RULAAC that his lawyers reported alleged demands for money by police personnel to facilitate the release of the seized property.

The release or retention of property in police custody must be determined by law and evidential requirements, not unofficial payments.

— Okechukwu Nwanguma, Executive Director, RULAAC

Call for Independent Investigation and Systemic Review

The organisation clarified that its intervention is not intended to shield Odoh from a legitimate investigation, asserting that if credible evidence establishes that he knowingly received stolen property or committed any other offence, the law should take its course. However, it cautioned against using police processes to subject individuals to repetitive investigations over substantially the same allegations.

Equally, police processes must not become instruments for pursuing a private vendetta or subjecting a person to repetitive investigations over substantially the same allegations.

— Okechukwu Nwanguma, Executive Director, RULAAC

Consequently, RULAAC requested the IGP to call up and consolidate all related petitions and investigation files involving Odoh, ATC Telecommunications, and Ozoigwe from the various police formations involved. It also called for the constitution of an independent investigative team from outside the handling formations to establish if the complaints overlap or concern distinct criminal transactions.

Specifically, RULAAC urged the police authorities to address the following issues:

• Investigate Mr. Ozoigwe's role in the complaints and Odoh's allegation of prior threats.
• Review the circumstances surrounding the arrest of Odoh's wife, verifying if she was arrested in lieu of her husband or on the basis of reasonable suspicion.
• Establish the legal basis and status of all goods and vehicles seized from Odoh, releasing properties no longer required as evidence.
• Conduct an independent inquiry into the alleged demands for money by police personnel for the release of property.
• Direct against duplicative arrests, seizures, or investigations arising from substantially the same allegations pending the review.

RULAAC stated that it has compiled relevant communications and documentation concerning the chronology of the matter to make available to the independent investigative team.

Our intervention is not intended to determine Mr. Odoh’s innocence or guilt. We ask only that all the relevant files and evidence be examined together by an impartial authority.

— Okechukwu Nwanguma, Executive Director, RULAAC

Let all the files be brought together. Let the evidence establish the truth.

— Okechukwu Nwanguma, Executive Director, RULAAC

The organisation concluded by appealing to the IGP for an urgent intervention and requested to be updated on any action taken regarding the petition.