Ebube Chukwu (not his real name), a 50-year-old father of three, had just travelled about 820 kilometres and 15 hours on the road down home from Gombe State in Northeastern Nigeria to Ebonyi State in Southeast Nigeria. He had been away from his family for months, working in Gombe and periodically sending money home. He decided to visit his family during this period.

Upon arrival, Chukwu was informed by his kinsmen that someone had been found dead in the neighborhood the day before and that the Nigeria Police Force was conducting random arrests. Shortly after, the police arrived at Chukwu’s compound and, to everyone’s surprise, ordered him to enter their van.

Despite his pleas about his long journey and showing his unpacked traveling bag as evidence, the police insisted he would have a chance to explain himself at the station. Having nothing to hide, Chukwu complied, expecting that his explanations and, at worst, preliminary investigations would resolve the issue. However, the police had other plans.

Despite his explanations and his relatives’ efforts to secure his release, Chukwu was charged in court and remanded in correctional custody while the case proceeded

Okeh to the rescue 

Nelson Okeh serves as the Head of Forensic Investigation at the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence and has been reputed for his stance on justice and integrity. In 2018, during a visit to the Nigerian correctional center in Ebonyi State, Okeh was shown an inmate who, according to prison warders, had been exemplary in character since his arrival. This inmate was Ebube Chukwu, who had been held in the correctional center for ten years while his trial dragged on through multiple adjournments.

Serving prison terms without sentencing is a common issue in Nigeria. In 2020, Ja’afaru Ahmed, then Head of the Nigerian Correctional Service, reported that 51,983 of 73,726 (70%) inmates served time without sentencing. Data from Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics from 2011 to 2015 showed even worse figures, with 72.5% of inmates in such a situation.

Upon learning of Chukwu’s case, Okeh took it upon himself to investigate.

“After investigation, I found out that indeed he was in Gombe State when the crime was committed in Ebonyi. The investigation proved that he was not in Ebonyi when that murder case happened. So, I now used forensic evidence to prove that if someone was killed, this guy was not there at the point the crime happened,” he revealed.

The forensic evidence gathered by Okeh turned out to be crucial to the case. Such substantial evidence ahad been missing throughout the decade-long case. Okeh submitted his report to the Ministry of Justice and followed up diligently. Chukwu was eventually discharged and acquitted. He was reunited with his family in Gombe after 11 years of detention.

Okeh’s Commitment Saves Four

In October 2016, Nelson Okeh’s integrity was tested when he was assigned a high-profile case involving suspected vandalism and theft of armored cables belonging to the Ebonyi State Ministry of Power and Energy. Ifeanyi Ugwu, Okereke Nnaemeka, Ene Chimaobi, and Onyebuchi Ibe were arrested by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for allegedly transporting 16mm cables. However, the actual vandalized cables were 35mm Cutix armored cables. Okeh discovered that the suspects had licenses to trade in armored cables.

“This implied that there was only circumstantial evidence in the case and direct evidence was not found on these persons,” Okeh explained.

As the investigation continued, the state government showed heightened interest because the vandalized cables were crucial for the State Government Hatchery in Abakaliki. Okeh noted that the Commissioner for Power and Energy even provided millions of naira to facilitate prosecution, emphasizing the government’s desire to jail the suspects.

Despite pressure from his superiors to frame the suspects for the vandalism, Okeh remained steadfast. He insisted on presenting his findings truthfully and recommended that the case be taken to court for an impartial judgment.

Okeh requested that the case be reassigned if there were doubts about his report and even asked to be investigated for any alleged compromise. The State Commandant, however, refused these requests.

John Agbe, Assistant Commandant of the NSCDC in Ebonyi State, expressed confidence in Okeh’s commitment to justice. “Nelson Okeh is a man who would never compromise, no matter the pressure, even monetary. Some call him controversial, but the truth is often bitter. I believe in him deeply,” he said.

Okeh Resists More Pressure

As the court case progressed, Okeh faced further challenges. On the day of his testimony, the prosecution lawyer falsely claimed that Okeh had been transferred, a tactic to delay the case and potentially remove Okeh from the proceedings.

“When I confronted the prosecution lawyer about why she lied to the court, she claimed that she didn’t prepare her defense. This made the judge adjourn the case for two weeks. Again, two days into the case, I went to her and reminded her that we were going to court in two days. She said again that she hadn’t prepared her defense,” he said.

The Commandant had to intervene after Okeh reported the deception. It was revealed that the prosecution lawyer lied about Okeh’s transfer to delay the case. Ultimately, the suspects were discharged and acquitted on February 11, 2020, after spending over three years and five months in court.

The Road Not Smooth for Integrity

Okeh’s experience illustrates that upholding integrity can be challenging amidst social and moral contradictions. He faced humiliation and false accusations for his professional handling of the cable vandalism case.

“Like the cable matter, people collected money and ate. But I refused to be part of it. Some colleagues made it appear as if I was the one who had committed the crime and they even accused me of getting bribes from the suspects,” he said.

Okeh faced threats of transfer to remote areas for refusing to bow to pressure. These threats materialized, and he was officially transferred from Ebonyi to Edo State. However, top officials in Abuja intervened on his behalf, recognizing his dedication.

Egoma Edeth, who served as Head of Administration of the Command and is now Commandant in Imo State, confirmed that many within the command supported Okeh. “He worked under me. We knew that he was doing the right thing. He even told the command that anywhere they wanted to go with the report he presented, he was ready to go there and defend himself,” he stated.

Okeh’s Motivation to Uphold Integrity

Okeh credits his trained conscience with motivating him to stand up for what is right. He believes that integrity is rewarded in times of need.

Despite his superiors ‘ disapproval, he recalled being the sole nominee for a forensic investigation course. “During the course, I learned that being truthful was a key criterion. I questioned why I was nominated if my integrity was questioned,” he said.

The course helped him gain the experience to serve as Head of Forensic Investigations at the Command. Assistant Commandant John Agbe noted that Okeh’s integrity contributed significantly to the command’s good reputation and success.

 This report is championed by Accountability Lab Nigeria and sponsored by The John D. and Catherine D. MacArthur Foundation and Luminate.