By Clement Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – Amnesty International has called on the Imo State Government and police authorities to implement a coroner’s recommendations on the death of 32-year-old Japheth Njoku in police custody, demanding prosecution of anyone found criminally responsible and compensation for the deceased’s family.
The international human rights organisation made the call in a statement posted on its X handle on Sunday, welcoming the findings delivered on September 30, 2026, by Chief Magistrate E. U. Chinaka of the Chief Magistrate’s Court, Owerri, who sat as a coroner to investigate Njoku’s death at the Tiger Base police facility in Owerri, Imo State.
Amnesty International urged the Attorney-General of Imo State, the Inspector-General of Police, the Police Service Commission and the Commissioner of Police in the state to ensure the prompt implementation of the coroner’s recommendations.
It also called for the prosecution of anyone found to have been criminally responsible for Njoku’s death, provided sufficient evidence exists, as well as adequate compensation and reparation for his family.
The organisation further demanded an independent investigation into reported attempts to obstruct the court-ordered autopsy and intimidate witnesses during the investigation.
According to Amnesty International, the coroner found that Njoku had been detained for approximately six weeks over an allegation of stealing, which the organisation described as a bailable offence.
The findings reportedly established that demands for money and the inhuman conditions under which he was detained contributed to the deterioration of his health and eventual death.
Amnesty International said the coroner’s findings reinforced its longstanding concerns over alleged human rights violations at Tiger Base, including arbitrary detention, torture and other forms of ill-treatment, extortion and deaths in custody.
It urged the relevant authorities to urgently address the concerns, strengthen safeguards for detainees in police custody and ensure that victims of human rights violations have access to effective remedies.
Emphasising the need for accountability, the organisation maintained that Njoku entered police custody alive and that his death must be subjected to a transparent process capable of establishing the truth and ensuring justice.
It added that Njoku’s family was entitled to an effective remedy and insisted that anyone suspected of responsibility for his death must be held accountable in accordance with the law.
Precise Post recalls that organisation’s call adds to ongoing concerns over the treatment of suspects in police detention facilities and the need for effective oversight, protection of detainees’ rights and accountability for deaths occurring in custody.
