By Fatima Saka
An Abuja-based civil rights organization, the Initiative Against Human Rights Abuse and Torture (INAHURAT), has urged President Bola Tinubu to order a full-scale investigation into the prolonged detention of a Rwandan businessman, Benjamin Hassan Rulisa, who was allegedly held for over six months without trial.
The group also called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to identify, investigate, and take disciplinary action against all officers involved in what they described as an unlawful arrest, detention, and attempted extortion.
Allegations of Unlawful Detention and Torture
According to INAHURAT, Rulisa was detained in an underground cell by officers of the Nigerian Police Monitoring Unit and the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) without the IGP’s knowledge or authorization.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, the group’s director, Chief Maxwell Chibuike Opara, detailed how Rulisa met a Nigerian, Muhammad Abba, in Nairobi, Kenya, in March 2023. Following their acquaintance, Abba allegedly invited Rulisa to Nigeria for business.
Upon his arrival, Abba reportedly took Rulisa to a hotel in Maitama, Abuja. While he was in his hotel room, police officers from the Monitoring Unit allegedly stormed the premises, arrested him without explanation, and took him into custody.
INAHURAT claims that Rulisa was held in the IRT’s underground detention facility, where he endured inhumane treatment, including severe torture. His legs were allegedly hung upside down, and he was denied access to his family or legal representation.
Despite repeated inquiries about his offense, the businessman was allegedly only told that he had “duped someone,” yet no formal complaint, evidence, or proof was ever presented.
Alleged Extortion Attempts
According to the group, instead of conducting an investigation, the officers in charge allegedly demanded money from Rulisa’s relatives, threatening that he would die in custody if they did not comply. When his family refused to pay, he was reportedly abandoned in detention, deprived of due process.
“For over six months, he was held without trial and without the IGP’s authorization,” Opara stated.
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INAHURAT revealed that Rulisa’s situation was exposed when a fellow detainee, upon his release, petitioned the IGP about the illegal detention. This prompted the IGP to direct the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) to retrieve the case file and conduct an independent investigation.
The SIU’s findings reportedly confirmed that Rulisa had been unlawfully detained, subjected to human rights violations, and targeted in an extortion scheme by officers of the IGP Monitoring Unit.
Upon realizing their misconduct had been uncovered, the officers allegedly filed baseless criminal charges against Rulisa in a last-minute attempt to justify their actions. The charges, according to INAHURAT, contained no evidence apart from statements from the same officers who had tortured him.
Call for Justice
Condemning the actions of the implicated officers, Opara called for an independent probe into the case, urging President Tinubu to ensure justice is served.
“We demand that the IGP immediately investigate and discipline all officers involved in this illegal arrest, detention, and extortion attempt,” he stated.
The group also appealed to the judiciary to ensure a fair trial, free from manipulation, and urged the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and international bodies to take action against the perpetrators.
“This case is a stain on Nigeria’s image and its commitment to justice, fairness, and the rule of law,” Opara said. “If a foreign investor can be treated this way, it raises serious concerns about the safety and security of other foreigners in Nigeria.”
INAHURAT reiterated its demand for justice for Rulisa and the prosecution of all officers involved in his alleged unlawful detention and mistreatment.
