A legal practitioner, Eric Ifere, has threatened to institute a lawsuit against Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State, his deputy, and others over allegations bordering on unlawful detention, violation of personal liberty, and undertaking signed under coercion.
He made this known in a letter with Reference Number: KLP/EI/Gov/1/2026, dated June 12, 2026, submitted at the Governor’s Office on June 15, 2026.
An acknowledged copy of the letter by the legal practitioner to the governor was made available to newsmen on Tuesday.
It is titled: “Notice of Intention to Commence Legal Proceedings for Unlawful Detention, Violation of Personal Liberty and Undertaking Signed Under Coercion.”
The lawyer also petitioned the Deputy Governor, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Surveyor General and Commissioner of Police.
Ifere, who said the experience inflicted emotional distress on him, demanded a written apology.
He wrote: “I am a solicitor qualified in England and Wales, as well as a solicitor and advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
“On 11th June 2026, I was instructed by Obol Lopon of Ugep, His Majesty’s Ofem Ubana, to attend with him a meeting with the Deputy Governor of Cross River State in Calabar.
“The meeting, held at the Deputy Governor’s office at 4PM, addressed the ongoing communal conflict between the Ugep and Idomi communities in Cross River State, stemming from a land dispute.
“During this meeting, I advised that no conclusive decisions should be made until a thorough review of the 1988 white paper and the subsequent 1992 case, which resulted in a judgment from the State High Court presided over by Hon Justice Walter Onnoghen ( as he then was).
“I committed to providing copies of these documents for consideration.
“Despite this recommendation, the Deputy Governor proposed a distribution formula for the disputed land as follows:
– 45% to Ugep
– 40% to Idomi
– 15% designated as a buffer zone for governmental purposes.
“Subsequently, the Deputy Governor instructed us to accompany the police to their station to sign an undertaking with unspecified terms.
“Still, we were unlawfully detained for approximately 6 hours at the State Criminal Investigation Department, police headquarters, Calabar.
“Even though I lacked the authority to bind the Ugep community to any undertaking, I was coerced into signing the document by an Assistant Commissioner of Police, who applied undue pressure.
“This experience inflicted emotional distress upon me and deprived me of my personal liberty, constituting a violation of Section 35 of the Nigerian Constitution and the Human Rights Act.
“The detention was unwarranted, illegal, and represented a significant infringement of my constitutionally protected rights as a legal practitioner.”
Giving the nature of the coercion, the lawyer alleged that his signature was procured under coercion and intimidation, characterised by threats of continued detention and verbal harassment.
“At the time, I had no viable alternative but to comply with the demands presented by the police officers,” Ifere said.
According to him, under civil law, any undertaking executed under duress or undue influence is voidable.
“I formally contest this action and reserve all my legal rights, as my signature was affixed under protest,” he said.
Ifere, therefore, asked the governor and others to confirm in writing, within seven days from the date of the letter, “that the undertaking related to the sharing formula for the disputed land between Ugep and Idomi will be deemed null and void”.
He also demanded a formal written apology and compensation in the sum of N50 million for the alleged infringement of his fundamental rights, along with any general damages deemed appropriate.
He added: “Should you fail to address this matter satisfactorily within the specified timeframe, I will have no alternative but to initiate legal proceedings against you without further notice.
“Such proceedings will seek the formal rescission of the undertaking and the recovery of any resulting damages, interest and legal costs.”
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