Businesswoman Sues Police – The Trumpet Newspaper Nigeria

The Managing Director of Dorigold Enterprises Limited, Egbogu-Onyeka Ogochukwu, has filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja against the Nigeria Police Force, the Police Service Commission (PSC), the Inspector-General of Police, and other defendants, seeking N20 billion in exemplary damages over alleged harassment, intimidation and abuse of power.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1432/2026, Ogochukwu and her company accused the respondents of using senior police officers to intimidate and persecute her over what they described as a purely civil dispute.

Also listed as respondents are the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Esther Nkama Animashaun, trading as ELSH Luxury Design, and Obiageli Nkama.

According to court documents filed through her counsel, Sylvanus E.O.B. Maliki, the applicants alleged repeated police invitations, threats of arrest, unlawful intimidation, public humiliation and an illegal raid on their Abuja residence.

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They urged the court to declare that the actions of the respondents violated their constitutional rights to dignity, personal liberty, privacy, fair hearing, freedom of movement, freedom of expression and freedom of association, as guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

In a supporting affidavit deposed to by Daniel Ogboji, a litigation executive with Oxygen Chambers, it was alleged that Ogochukwu was being “hunted” by police officers acting at the instance of the fifth and sixth respondents.

The affidavit stated that Ogochukwu met Animashaun through a mutual acquaintance at the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA) in Abuja in March 2025 and later accommodated her and her children after learning they were facing eviction from their rented apartment.

Ogochukwu further claimed she provided substantial financial assistance to Animashaun, including N2 million as a gift, N4.15 million for rent, N6 million for vehicle repairs and N3 million for school fees, among other expenses.

She alleged that after their relationship deteriorated, Animashaun drove away one of her vehicles and later sold it without her consent.

The applicants also claimed that Animashaun threatened to use family members serving in the Nigeria Police Force to “deal with” Ogochukwu and force her out of Abuja.

They further alleged that on June 20, 2026, about five police officers led by Obiageli Nkama invaded Ogochukwu’s residence in Kuchiyako Annex, Kuje, Abuja, without a search warrant or court order.

According to the suit, the officers searched the property and seized a vehicle, international passports belonging to Ogochukwu, her children, employees and clients, as well as educational certificates, mobile phones, marriage and birth certificates, and other personal belongings.

The applicants also accused the officers of publicly portraying Ogochukwu as a criminal before neighbours, thereby damaging her reputation.

They further claimed they had continued to receive WhatsApp messages and telephone calls from police officers allegedly threatening prolonged detention, forcing them to abandon both their residence and business premises for fear of arrest.

The suit maintained that the disagreement between Ogochukwu and Animashaun was purely civil in nature and accused the police of allowing themselves to be used to settle a private dispute.

The applicants are asking the court to declare the alleged invasion of their residence and seizure of their property unconstitutional, order the immediate return of all items allegedly confiscated, and restrain the respondents from further inviting, arresting, detaining or harassing them except in accordance with due process and a valid court order.

They are also seeking N20 billion in exemplary damages against the respondents jointly and severally.

The case is yet to be assigned to a judge.