The Center for Human Rights Advocacy and Wholesome Society (CEHRAWS) has expressed outrage over the case of alleged violent eviction, criminal trespass, destruction of property, theft, intimidation, and continued threats against a widow, Mrs. Chiemela Temple.
According to the group, Mrs. Temple, a resident of Aba and mother of a two-year-old child, now lives in fear while seeking justice.
It was gathered that the matter, which has already been formally reported to and is currently before the Nigeria Police Force, Aba Area Command, stems from incidents that allegedly occurred between 14th and 15th April, 2026, involving the complainant’s landlord, caretaker, agent, and other unidentified persons.
Reports say Mrs. Temple returned from a midweek church service only to discover that her home had allegedly been devastated.
The apartment was reportedly forcefully broken into, the roof removed, the ceilings destroyed, and personal belongings damaged.
More painfully, the complainant alleged that the sum of ₦988,000.00, being proceeds from her business meant for banking the following day, disappeared during the incident.
According to the Executive Director of the CEHRAWS, Chuka Okoye, what makes the matter even more troubling is that the complainant is not merely mourning economic loss but also battling fear, trauma, and intimidation.
He said the organization has been informed that, despite the matter being before the Aba Area Command, the complainant continues to receive threats allegedly emanating from the suspects and persons linked to them.
Okoye further said the widow’s oppressors are reportedly boasting that she will never obtain justice anywhere because of their wealth, influence, and connections.
“Such statements, if true, strike at the very soul of justice and raise serious questions about whether ordinary citizens, particularly women and vulnerable persons, can still trust the system when confronted by persons wielding money and influence.
“It is unacceptable that a woman, a mother, and a citizen seeking lawful redress should allegedly be subjected to psychological warfare simply because she dared to cry out for justice.
“CEHRAWS wishes to remind all concerned that self-help eviction, violent dispossession, destruction of property, and intimidation remain unlawful under Nigerian law, and no landlord, caretaker, agent, or private actor possesses the legal authority to resort to force, outside due judicial process.
“We are equally concerned by the chilling implications of the alleged boasts being made by the suspects. Justice must never become the exclusive preserve of the rich, powerful, or connected. The Constitution guarantees equal protection under the law, and any perception that influence can suppress accountability is dangerous to public confidence in our institutions,” he said.
The group called on the Aba Area Command of the Nigeria Police Force to ensure a diligent, impartial, and expeditious investigation into the matter, while also demanding that the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the wider legal community lend their voices against the growing culture of violent self-help and intimidation.
It further asked civil society organizations, women’s rights advocates, and human rights defenders to stand with victims who continue to suffer silent oppression, while urging the relevant authorities to provide protection to the complainant against further threats or intimidation.
According to Okoye, this has gone beyond a tenancy dispute to become a human rights concern involving allegations of violence, economic loss, intimidation, and an apparent attempt to weaponize influence against a vulnerable citizen.
He vowed that the CEHRAWS will continue to monitor the matter and pursue every lawful avenue necessary to ensure that justice is neither delayed, denied, nor traded for influence.
