Ikechukwu Igbokwe, a 61-year-old lawyer and football administrator in Anambra State, has called on the Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, to investigate what he described as his unlawful arrest and detention by officers of the X-Squad Department of the Anambra State Police Command.
Addressing a press conference in Awka on Tuesday, Igbokwe alleged that he was abducted by armed men in plain clothes on the streets of Awka and detained at the Central Police Station (CPS), Awka, from September 2 to September 5, 2025.
According to him, the arrest was based on a petition submitted by Chikelue Iloenyosi, Chairman of the Anambra State Football Association (FA), who accused him of cyberbullying, defamation, and criminal misrepresentation.
The petition, dated August 6, 2025, and written on Iloenyosi’s behalf by Supra Legal Chambers, was titled: “Petition Against Mr. Leonard Iyke Igbokwe for Cyber Bullying, Defamation, and False Claim of Legal Practice.”
In the petition sighted by reporters, Iloenyosi alleged that Igbokwe was not a qualified lawyer, claiming he had never attended the Nigerian Law School or been called to the Bar. He also accused Igbokwe of maliciously publishing false content about him on social media.
Part of the petition also claimed that Igbokwe falsely alleged that Iloenyosi was administering the affairs of the Anambra FA solely, in violation of NFF statutes, which provide for a functional Board.
However, recounting his ordeal, Igbokwe maintained that his detention was illegal and unjustifiable.
He said he was held for three days without being charged to court—even though the court premises are within a five-kilometre radius of the station.
Describing the allegations against him as “laughable,” Igbokwe said that he graduated with a Second Class Honours (Upper Division) from the Nigerian Law School in 1992 and is duly certified by the National Council of Legal Education.
“There was no bullying in what I wrote,” “The Anambra FA Chairman has been running a nine-member board all by himself, managing the association’s finances without the approval of the Board or the General Assembly.”
“For three years, the Anambra FA has been under a one-man administration. When you challenge him, he tells you that his wife is a senior police officer,” he added.
Igbokwe noted that his critiques were published in his online football and ethics column, Sliding Tackles, which he said had published over 230 articles in the past year and a half without receiving any formal complaints.
“Then, without any fair process, he (Iloenyosi) set up an unqualified and illegal disciplinary committee headed by a non-lawyer, in contravention of Article 65 of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Statutes, and singlehandedly banned me from football activities for five years.”
“The chairman who is not even a member of the illegal committee signed the decision, which is a serious procedural anomaly. As someone who served as Vice Chairman and later Chairman of the NFF Disciplinary Committee between 2010 and 2014, I know the rules.
“Despite all this, Chikelue orchestrated my illegal abduction in Awka on September 2. There was no prior invitation that I ignored, nor any court warrant issued. I was essentially kidnapped—but by the grace of God, I’m alive to tell the story.”
“When we arrived at the X-Squad, they told me the Commissioner of Police wanted to see me. But up until now, I have not set eyes on him. That’s how a lawyer of 33 years was thrown into a cell for three days.”he said.
Igbokwe said he is now speaking publicly to expose what he described as the “reign of impunity” within the Anambra FA.
He also confirmed that he had submitted a petition to the state governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, detailing the alleged illegality and lawlessness of the FA Chairman.
“Chikelue has refused to allow elected board members to perform their duties. He has failed to conduct a by-election for four vacant seats, including those representing Anambra South Senatorial District—my own constituency, as well as that of Governor Soludo.”
“He unilaterally dissolved the Local Football Councils that were elected on the same day and at the same venue as himself. So tell me, how is Anambra football supposed to function under this kind of emperorship?” he queried.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Anambra, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said he was unaware of the arrest and detention.
“I am not aware of this. Let me find out and get back to you,” he said.
Igbokwe also disclosed that the matter has now been charged to court, and he is scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday, September 24, 2025.
About Author
