The sudden and controversial death of Mrs. Uju Ezeobi, a key complainant in a high-profile multi-million-naira land fraud case, has raised serious concerns about police complicity and abuse of power. Ezeobi reportedly died while in custody at the Zone 13 Police Headquarters in Ukpo, Anambra State, just hours after her legal team petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, over her alleged mistreatment.
The case, which dates back to 2021, involves Nkiruka Duru, the president of the United Business Women Association, who allegedly defrauded investors of over ₦200 million by selling non-existent land in Achala. Ezeobi, who had facilitated some of the transactions, later filed a petition against Duru after the promised land failed to materialize. The case was initially investigated by the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (FCIID) in Abuja, leading to formal charges against Duru. However, following a shake-up in the police force, Duru allegedly leveraged her influence to have the case reassigned to Zone 13, where she reportedly manipulated the proceedings in her favor.
On March 24, 2025, in what has been described as a “commando-style” operation, Special Police (SP) officer Utazi and his team arrested Ezeobi in Asaba without prior summons, detaining her overnight. Shocking images of her detention quickly surfaced on social media platforms linked to Duru. Despite an existing directive from the Inspector-General prohibiting case takeovers by other police units, officers at Zone 13 allegedly allowed Duru to dictate the investigation. Ezeobi’s legal team accused the police of fabricating charges to keep her detained indefinitely, effectively preventing the case from being returned to the FCIID for proper prosecution.
Her sudden and suspicious death in custody has triggered widespread condemnation, with legal representatives and human rights groups calling for an independent investigation. Prior to her death, her legal team had repeatedly warned authorities about alleged intimidation tactics used against her. Now, they are demanding immediate justice and a thorough probe into the circumstances surrounding her demise, as concerns over police misconduct continue to escalate.