“Free Emmanuel Acha Now!’, group tells Ebonyi govt, condemns unlawful detention
By our Correspondent
The South-East Human Rights Action Group, an umbrella body of civil rights organization and human rights defenders has condemned in totality, the protracted incarceration and prosecution of Comrd. Emmanuel Acha.
The group in a statement titled:
‘ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! SOUTH-EAST HUMAN RIGHTS ACTION GROUP TO EBONYI STATE GOVERNMENT: FREE EMMANUEL ACHA NOW!’, jointly signed by Centre for Human Rights Advocacy and Wholesome Society (CEHRAWS), Abia State, Obimma Amaefula Chikadibia Esq, Nneka E. Ikeh (Mrs) and Don-collins Ozokwor Esq. and issued to famousreporters.com, today, August 13, the group expressed acrimony over the unjust treatment meted out to the Ebonyi citizen by the APC government of the State.
The group decried the dehumanising actions done against Acha, regretting that “since April 2025, Comrade Emmanuel Acha has been held like a common criminal. His “crime” being nothing more than standing up for the rights and fair treatment of the Effium people in court; Suit No: FHC/AI/CS/FHR/221/24. Instead of looking into his complaints about the infringement and derogation of their constitutional rights as a people which was in issue, the Ebonyi State Government through the Police Command has weaponised the criminal justice system against him, fabricating Charge No: HKW/27C/2025 to silence his voice.”
The statement read in detail:
We, the undersigned representatives of the South-East Human Rights Action Group, an umbrella body of civil rights organization and human rights defenders, issue this statement in outrage and deep indignation over the continued detention and persecution of Comrade Emmanuel Acha.
Let it be clear: this is not just about Acha, this is about the future of our democracy, civil and political rights in Ebonyi State and Nigeria at large.
Since April 2025, Comrade Emmanuel Acha has been held like a common criminal, his “crime” being nothing more than standing up for the rights and fair treatment of the Effium people in court; Suit No: FHC/AI/CS/FHR/221/24. Instead of looking into his complaints about the infringement and derogation of their constitutional rights as a people which was in issue, the Ebonyi State Government through the Police Command has weaponised the criminal justice system against him, fabricating Charge No: HKW/27C/2025 to silence his voice.
We have seen this movie before; the intimidation of activists, the denial of bail, the smearing of reputations — all tactics designed to silence and instill fear in anyone daring to challenge the power that be. But we refuse to be cowed.
Sections 35, 36, 39, and 6(6)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) guarantee every Nigerian the right to liberty, fair hearing, free expression, and access to the courts. The refusal to grant Comrade Emmanuel Acha bail, coupled with credible reports of physical assault and psychological torture in detention facilities he has been held is a naked abuse of power and against fundamental human rights.
We remind Ebonyi State Government under the leadership of Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru: A true democrat does not preside over the criminalisation of dissent. A leader who turns a blind eye to such injustice will be remembered not for peace, but for repression.
We DEMAND:
- Immediate and unconditional freedom for Comrade Emmanuel Acha — not tomorrow, not next week, but NOW.
- Total withdrawal of all trumped-up charges by the Ebonyi State government against his person.
- Public exposure and prosecution of every public official and police officer who abused their power in this case.
- Full access to medical care, legal counsel, and family visits for Acha until he is released.
- An iron-clad public commitment by the Government to protect civic freedoms and stop the war on our civic space.
Continue, the group wrote: “We are watching. Nigeria is watching. The world is watching.
If the Ebonyi State Government and Police Command continue down this path, they will face the court of public opinion, and history’s verdict will not be kind.
“We will not be silent. We will not retreat. And we will not stop until Emmanuel Acha walks free and justice is done.” The group concluded.
RECALL
Nigerian citizen, Emmanuel Acha, is currently languishing in the Abakiliki prison, in the aftermath of a disputed land claim between the Effium and Ezza tribe of Ebonyi State, Famousreporters.com reports with reference to The Niche
Acha, a human rights defender who is hailed from the Effium tribe, had dragged the government of Ebonyi State to court in suit number FHC/AI/CS/FHR/221/24 that seeks to protect his people from losing their ancestral land to the Ezza.
The Effium and Ezza had historically disputed ownership of land in the Ohaukwu local government area of the state. The state government tried to resolve the conflict through a Bishop Nnachi Okoro committee in 2024. The same government, however, jettisoned the report of the committee and commissioned another report upon which it relied on to demarcate the disputed land. Acha protested the government’s action by heading straight to court.
Emmanuel Acha, dressed in prison gown with a lawyer and another human rights defender, Okechukwu Nwanguma
On April 16, while at his base in Enugu where he serves as chairperson of the Enugu State Civil Society Network, Acha was arrested in a manner similar to abduction, physically brutalised and then presented before a judge over allegation of arms possession, which makes bail difficult. He has since remained in prison for over 90 days.
TheNiche gathered that Acha’s arrest follows his refusal to withdraw the court action he filed against the state government. Those behind it were angry because he resisted pressure to stand down his court case.
On July 8, a coalition of civil society organisations under the banner of Action Group on Free Civic Space (AGFC) petitioned the governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru, on the plight of Acha, expressing deep concern over the manner of his arrest, prolonged detention, and prosecution which bore all the trademarks of malicious prosecution, especially as the claim of gun possession was not substantiated in the charge.
The petition, signed by Spaces for Change, Rule of Law Accountability and Advocacy Centre, Restorative Justice for Africa and seven others, urged the governor to protect the rights of Acha from some of the state officials who wanted to ‘teach him a lesson’ for daring to challenge the Ebonyi State Government in court.
The petition reads in part, “We acknowledge the government’s interventions in the lingering Effium-Ezza conflict, including the 2023 ceasefire agreement, the Bishop Michael N. Okoro Peace Committee (2024), the 2025 amnesty and deradicalisation efforts, and
the enactment of an Executive Bill on the disputed land. While commending these efforts, we firmly reject all forms of violence and criminality associated with the conflict.
“However, we are deeply troubled by the arrest of Comrade Acha for merely exercising his constitutional rights by filing a civil suit (Suit No: FHC/AI/CS/FHR/221/24) to protect the rights of the Effium people. He has been detained since April 2025 and is now facing criminal trial in (Charge No: HKW/27C/2025), with trial scheduled to begin on July 10, 2025.
“Despite multiple efforts, he has been denied bail. In a democracy, citizens have the ability to criticize government actions lawfully. Sections 39(1) and 6(6)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) guarantee freedom of expression and access to the courts for the protection of civil rights. We believe Comrade Acha’s continued incarceration is a clear violation of his Constitutional rights to liberty, fair hearing, and free expression.”
The groups, while condemning the criminalization of dissent in Ebonyi State, urged the governor to order the immediate release of Comrade Acha and others detained for exercising their rights in relation to the Effium-Ezza dispute.
They also demanded that he holds public officials involved in the abuse of power against Acha responsible.
The statement urged the governor to invite independent mediators, civil society groups, and international human rights observers to monitor the peace process and the implementation of the state’s white paper on the conflict.
On July 16, AGFCS held a press briefing to further highlight the travails of Acha, warning that his treatment reflects a dangerous regression in Nigeria’s democratic values and the lengths state and non-state actors go to silence lawful dissent.
“It is a chilling message to all human rights defenders and civil society leaders across the country,” warned Okechukwu Nwanguma, who read the texts of the statement on behalf of the AGFCS.
The statement recalled that upon Acha’s arrest, he was subjected to physical assault and psychological torment, allegedly at the hands of police officers, one of whom is of Ezza ethnic extraction even when no incriminating evidence was found on his person or in his home.
“This is a clear case of political persecution disguised as criminal prosecution,” the statement said.
It added: “In a democratic society, citizens must be free to question government policies, challenge injustice, and seek redress through the courts. Section 39(1) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria affirms the right to freedom of expression and opinion. Section 6(6)(b) further guarantees the judicial powers of the courts in protecting civil rights and obligations. These constitutional guarantees are now under threat in Ebonyi State.”
The groups made the following demands on Governor Nwifuru, which include; order the immediate and unconditional release of Comrade Acha, hold to account all public officials and police personnel who have abused their powers and violated the rights of Acha, withdraw the politically motivated charges and ensure that he receives immediate medical attention, granted access to legal counsel and family, and protected from further abuse in custody.
