A retired Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, Hilary Opara, has been accused of asking officials at the Kuje Custodial Centre to chain and torture David Nwokorie, the former boyfriend of his daughter, despite a Federal High Court granting the detainee bail.
According to SaharaReporters, sources within the custodial centre alleged that Opara contacted prison officials on Tuesday and requested that Nwokorie be subjected to harsher treatment while in custody.
Officials familiar with the matter reportedly claimed that the retired police chief made the request even though Nwokorie has already secured bail in the cybercrime case instituted against him by the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC).
A prison official, quoted by the publication, said authorities were surprised by the alleged request but did not indicate that it would be carried out.
The allegation comes about two weeks after Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court in Abuja granted Nwokorie bail.
However, his release has reportedly been stalled by strict bail conditions requiring him to produce a serving Colonel in the Nigerian Army as surety—a requirement his supporters and family describe as extremely difficult to fulfil.
With the judge expected to commence the court’s annual vacation through September, concerns have been raised that Nwokorie could remain in custody for several more weeks despite the court’s bail order.
The case arose from the collapse of Nwokorie’s relationship with Genevieve Opara, a Deputy Manager at the National Pension Commission (PenCom) and daughter of the retired police chief.
According to SaharaReporters, Nwokorie was initially arrested after Genevieve petitioned the police, accusing him of cyberstalking, blackmail and related offences.
He was later granted administrative bail following the intervention of human rights activist Omoyele Sowore.
The publication reported that police had imposed stringent administrative bail conditions, including the provision of two sureties who were either Federal Government employees on Grade Level 17 or above, or businessmen with Abuja properties valued at not less than ₦500 million.
Nwokorie’s lawyer, Barrister Ezike Chibuzor, reportedly maintained that the dispute originated from a failed romantic relationship.
He alleged that his client ended the relationship after discovering that Genevieve had previously been married and had two children, information he claimed was not disclosed during their relationship.
The lawyer further alleged that tensions escalated after Genevieve learnt that Nwokorie had proposed to another woman, leading to disagreements between the two parties.
Following the breakdown of the relationship, Nwokorie allegedly demanded ₦25 million as compensation for property he claimed was damaged and later published a flyer online featuring Genevieve’s photograph, accusing her of destroying his belongings.
Genevieve subsequently petitioned the police, accusing Nwokorie of cyberbullying, blackmail and extortion, leading to his arrest and prosecution.
Nwokorie’s family has consistently alleged that Hilary Opara used his influence as a retired senior police officer to facilitate the arrest and continued detention of the defendant.
When previously contacted by SaharaReporters, Genevieve Opara maintained that Nwokorie was being prosecuted based on allegations of blackmail, cyberbullying and threats to life, insisting that the police acted on available evidence.
She declined further comments because the matter is before the court.
Her lawyer also declined to comment on the case, citing the ongoing judicial proceedings.
Efforts by SaharaReporters to obtain the retired DIG’s response to the latest allegations were reportedly unsuccessful as he could not be reached for comment.
Credit: SaharaReporters except headline
