On the 26th of September, 2024, an alarming incident unfolded in Enugu State as Mr. Tochukwu Nzekwe a.k.a Toshel, a prominent businessman, was unlawfully detained, assaulted, and extorted in a case that implicates both Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Kanayo Uzuegbu, and Mr. Donald Ekete (CEO EKETESON).
According to Mr. Nzekwe, he was called by CP Uzuegbu a day prior to the incident and was assured that the issues surrounding the damaged road and the brutal assault on the truck driver of Toshel Construction were resolved. He was told by Donald Ekete that no further action was needed. However, what happened next revealed a deeply troubling plot.
Mr Tochukwu was unaware that he was being tracked by a group of men led by an individual known as “Lion-King,” allegedly identified as an officer from the CP office, accompanied by three police officers attached to Mr. Ekete’s security detail.
These men, alongside the police officers, illegally detained Mr. Nzekwe at Oakland Hotels, where he had been lured under the pretense of a business meeting. Once there, Mr. Nzekwe was ambushed, and his phone was forcibly seized to prevent him from contacting his lawyers. He was violently assaulted, handcuffed, and blindfolded.
As his illegal detention escalated, Mr. Nzekwe was swiftly arraigned before Magistrate Chukwuani around 5:20 PM, with three fully armed police officers present in the courtroom, creating an intimidating atmosphere. The group, which included Mr. Ekete’s personal lawyer, Barrister Onyike, and a police prosecutor identified as Mr. Ajogwu, proceeded to take disturbing photos and videos of Nzekwe during the hearing.
In a shocking twist, Donald Ekete allegedly demanded a ransom of 28,350,000 million Naira for Mr. Nzekwe’s release from his unlawful detention saying it’s the money CP said he should collect to make it possible for his release and Etekeson lawyer’s account details was sent through sms for the payment to be made (0003075011, Access Bank, Barr. Sunday).
This incident raised serious concerns about corruption and abuse of power, involving both law enforcement officials and local political figures.