A nurse identified as Chiemela Nonye has alleged that Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Nkiruka Ugwu, attached to Area ‘M’ Command, Idimu, Lagos, paid her to provide false testimony in a rape case. Nonye further claims that CSP Ugwu has been threatening to kill her if she reveals her involvement in the ongoing rape investigation at the Area ‘D’ Command, Mushin.
When contacted, CSP Ugwu dismissed the allegations, stating, “I told her (Nonye) never to involve my name. She can’t try it. Why would she involve my name? Am I fighting her with Amuche? She should go ahead and do whatever she wants to do. If it is my case she wants, I am ready for her. She cannot try to mention my name.”
Regarding allegations of locking up the shop belonging to the mother of the minors involved in the rape case and instructing touts to harm her if she reopened it, CSP Ugwu said, “I have nothing to say. They can all go ahead with whatever they want to do. I am not a sister to Amuche. God forbid, I am not.”
Nonye was arrested on January 22, 2025, by the Police at the Area ‘D’ Command in Mushin following a petition filed by one Mr. Ekwenyu Uchenna. In his petition, Uchenna accused Nonye of bearing false witness against him by claiming to have witnessed him defiling three teenage siblings in April 2024.
According to Uchenna, the false allegations led to his arrest and subsequent detention. He stated that he was initially detained for seven days at the Alausa Police Division before being transferred to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) in Abuja, where he spent an additional three weeks in detention. Uchenna explained that after his time in Abuja, he was moved to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, Lagos, where a thorough investigation by detectives found no evidence to support the claims that he penetrated the minors. He was later released.
Uchenna revealed that he was arrested alongside the mother of the minors, as police operatives, led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Philomena Ehiokhilen, alleged that the woman had conspired with him to rape her children.
After his release, Uchenna petitioned the Area ‘D’ Command, Mushin, where Nonye reportedly admitted during interrogation that CSP Ugwu had paid her an undisclosed sum to fabricate the allegations against him and the minors’ mother. Nonye’s confession was documented in a written statement.
In a recorded telephone conversation between Nonye and the mother of the minors, Nonye was heard pleading for forgiveness and claiming that CSP Ugwu had been threatening her life to ensure her silence.
The conversation unfolded as follows:
Nurse Nonye: “I don’t know why I agreed to this. As I speak with you, I’m in tears. Please forgive me. I didn’t know why I agreed to frame Uchenna. Please help me apologize to Uche.”
Mother of minors: “We are all human. I know how both of us were. I went to my lawyer’s office and explained everything, telling him it was not you. You were pushed into this. If he wants to speak to you, he can confirm you were pushed out of ignorance. After hearing from you, if they find out you were misled, they will know how to exclude you from the matter. So, leave Uchenna out of this because I have told him you are not the main problem. CSP Ugwu is the real problem. She pushed you into this.”
The mother of the three minors, in an interview, alleged that CSP Ugwu had threatened her life multiple times and had also destroyed her business. She stated, “CSP Ugwu came to my shop located at Cele-Egbe last year and seized my goods. She told the touts in the area to kill me if I tried to go near the shop. She said she was the Divisional Police Officer (DPO). Since then, all my goods have been taken.”
The mother further alleged that CSP Ugwu’s actions have left her in fear for her safety. According to her, the threats and intimidation began shortly after the allegations of rape were first made against Uchenna. She claimed that Ugwu’s involvement was not only aimed at incriminating Uchenna but also at silencing her efforts to seek justice for herself and her children.
Meanwhile, Uchenna expressed relief that the truth was beginning to surface but lamented the damage the false accusations had caused him. He stated that his detention and the stigma associated with the allegations had negatively impacted his life and reputation. He called on the authorities to ensure justice is served and to hold those involved accountable.
In addition to Uchenna’s petition, human rights groups and legal advocates have reportedly taken an interest in the case, highlighting concerns about police misconduct and the abuse of power. These groups have called for an independent investigation into the allegations against CSP Ugwu to ensure that justice is not obstructed.
As the case continues to unfold, the public has expressed outrage over the allegations and the apparent abuse of authority by senior police officers. Calls for police reform and accountability have intensified, with many questioning how such incidents continue to occur within the force.
CSP Ugwu, however, remains defiant, maintaining her innocence and challenging Nonye and the minors’ mother to pursue their claims. “They can all go ahead with whatever they want to do,” she said, reiterating her position that she had no involvement in the alleged actions.
