Daniel Ezekiel Held Five Days: Police Accused Of Seeking Backdated Court Order As Rights Groups Demand Immediate Release
By Passman Akpos
ABUJA — Fresh controversy has erupted over the continued detention of Niger Delta human-rights activist Daniel Ezekiel, five days after he was reportedly taken from his residence in Life Camp, Abuja, with allegations emerging that police authorities are seeking a court order to retrospectively justify his continued custody.
The allegation of a backdated court order has not been independently verified by Tarakirivoice and has been attributed to sources familiar with the matter.
Ezekiel, also known as Apostle Perela Ezekiel Osia, was reportedly taken from his home on Friday, September 18, 2026, by men whose identities and authority he said he could not independently verify.
He was initially taken to Agwa Cement Police Station before reportedly being transferred to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (Force CID), Abuja, where he remains in custody.
As of the latest reports reviewed by Tarakirivoice, no publicly disclosed charge sheet against Ezekiel has emerged, while questions remain over the precise legal authority under which his detention is being maintained.
SEPTEMBER 3 PETITION BEFORE SEPTEMBER 18 ARREST
Ezekiel’s detention came approximately two weeks after a petition dated September 3, 2026, reportedly submitted by lawyers representing businessman Chief Ekomieyefa Uduboh, popularly known as KFT, to the Inspector-General of Police and the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre.
The petition reportedly accused Ezekiel and another individual of publishing allegedly defamatory Facebook posts in August.
The allegations remain untested, and the existence of a petition does not establish criminal liability.
The chronology, however, has become a major focus of public attention:
September 3 — Petition reportedly filed.
September 18 — Ezekiel reportedly arrested.
September 22 — More than 50 civil-society and human-rights organisations demand his immediate release and an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his detention.
BAIL ALLEGATION AND DEMAND FOR APOLOGY
Sources familiar with the case told the Nigerian Observatory for Human Rights that Ezekiel was reportedly granted bail subject to stringent conditions, including the production of two Level 16 civil servants with property in Abuja valued at approximately ₦50 million.
The same sources alleged that police subsequently insisted on an additional condition: that Ezekiel issue a public apology to Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo.
According to the account, Ezekiel rejected the alleged demand and maintained that he would rather face a court than withdraw his allegations.
He has reportedly maintained that he possesses evidence supporting his claims and is prepared to defend them through lawful proceedings
These claims about the alleged apology demand and bail conditions have not been independently confirmed by Tarakirivoice.
WHO IS SEEKING THE ALLEGED BACKDATED ORDER?
The most explosive allegation now surrounding the case is that police, allegedly facing increasing pressure from human-rights lawyers over the continued detention, are seeking a magistrate who would issue an order retrospectively covering the period of Ezekiel’s detention.
That allegation remains unverified.
If established, however, it would raise serious questions about the legal basis for the period of custody preceding such an order.
The Nigeria Police Force has yet to publicly provide a detailed explanation, in the sources reviewed, addressing the allegation.
57 CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS DEMAND RELEASE
Pressure on the authorities intensified on September 21 after a coalition of 57 civil-society organisations, human-rights groups and community advocates called for Ezekiel’s immediate and unconditional release.
The coalition also called for an independent investigation into the serious allegations Ezekiel has made concerning powerful interests in the Niger Delta.
The Nigerian Observatory for Human Rights separately reported that more than 50 organisations had demanded Ezekiel’s release and questioned the circumstances of his arrest.
EZEKIEL’S EXPLOSIVE ALLEGATIONS
For months, Ezekiel has publicly made serious allegations involving Tompolo, Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited and individuals he says are connected to them.
Among other claims, he has alleged that he witnessed unlawful detention, torture, forced labour and intimidation in the Niger Delta.
He has further alleged the existence of private detention facilities where victims were allegedly subjected to torture, forced labour, enforced disappearance and extrajudicial killings.
Ezekiel says he has supporting materials, including photographs, audio and video recordings and testimonies from alleged victims and their relatives.
Those allegations have not been established by a court or independent investigation. Recent reporting has specifically noted that there is currently no verified evidence establishing that Tompolo ordered, authorised or participated in Ezekiel’s arrest.
Tompolo, Tantita and other individuals named in the allegations have the right to respond to the claims.
THE QUESTIONS POLICE MUST ANSWER
The controversy has now moved beyond the original social-media petition, with growing calls for transparency over Ezekiel’s detention.
Among the questions demanding answers are:
Who ordered Daniel Ezekiel’s arrest?
What specific offence is he being investigated for?
Under whose authority was he taken from his Abuja residence?
Was a warrant issued before his arrest?
Why has no publicly disclosed charge been announced after five days?
Were the reported bail conditions lawfully imposed?
Was Ezekiel asked to apologise to Tompolo as a condition for his release?
Is any court order now being sought to retrospectively validate his detention?
And will the serious allegations made by Ezekiel receive an independent investigation?
For now, the case remains a clash between a police petition alleging online defamation and a wider human-rights controversy surrounding allegations made by the activist himself.
The central issue increasingly confronting the authorities is whether both sides of the dispute will receive the same level of scrutiny — and whether Ezekiel’s continued detention will be transparently justified by law.
Tarakirivoice will continue to monitor the case and seek responses from the Nigeria Police Force, Force CID, KFT, Tompolo, Tantita and other parties named in the allegations.
