$1.5m dispute: Family petitions Tinubu, alleges detained businessman chained to hospital bed
The family of detained businessman Ufoma Joseph Immanuel has raised concerns over alleged mistreatment in custody and threats to his life as he faces prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) related to a contentious oil deal valued at $1.5 million.
In a petition directed to President Bola Tinubu, Immanuel’s family, represented by the Initiative for Media Development and Social Impact (IMEDSI), reported that he is currently handcuffed to his hospital bed at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH). They allege that correctional officers are preventing him from moving about, despite medical advice recommending periodic movement to mitigate the risk of blood clots.
Spokesperson for IMEDSI, Onose Oseyi, voiced the family’s worries, highlighting issues such as a lack of access to legal representation, potential jeopardy to Immanuel’s life, and a failure to comply with court orders.
Immanuel, who serves as the chief executive of Chappal Energies, is on trial at the Lagos State Special Offences Court, facing allegations from the EFCC that he and his company, Intermediate Investment Holdings Limited, fraudulently secured $1.5 million from businessman Adebisi Adebutu and R28 Holdings Limited. Immanuel has entered a plea of not guilty.
In their statement, IMEDSI clarified that their involvement is not intended to affect the judicial proceedings or to make determinations about Immanuel’s guilt. They emphasized that the state is responsible for safeguarding his life, dignity, and health while he remains in custody.
During a visit to Immanuel at the hospital, IMEDSI representatives observed him restrained and unable to mobilize, despite doctors indicating that he needed to move regularly. Oseyi described these conditions as inhumane, emphasizing that Immanuel has not been convicted of any crime, and called for an immediate cessation of the restraints along with a public account of who authorized such measures.
The family expressed heightened alarm over claims of threats to Immanuel’s life. They reported that he previously sought assistance from the Department of State Services (DSS) in February 2026, alleging threats made against him by Adebutu. Following this, he was detained and subsequently transferred to EFCC custody. Additionally, during a prior settlement meeting, Adebutu reportedly warned the family that Immanuel would face dire consequences if he did not relinquish his shares in the disputed transaction.
While the family refrained from categorizing these allegations as factual, they deemed them sufficiently serious to merit an independent investigation. They have also informed the British High Commission, which is said to have dispatched a consular official to assess Immanuel’s welfare.
The family further contended that Immanuel has been repeatedly denied bail and was once transferred from LASUTH in the early hours of the morning. “A criminal allegation does not equate to a conviction. Remand does not equate to imprisonment after trial. Custody does not extinguish dignity,” the family’s statement asserted.
They clarified that this matter is not rooted in fraud, but rather centers on a commercial dispute concerning shares, a characterization acknowledged by both the Federal High Court and the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory as a civil shareholding issue. They allege that the $1.5 million investment was made for the acquisition of an asset that has since been completed and publicly announced.
The family is appealing to President Tinubu to ensure the protection of Immanuel’s rights. They have also urged adherence to court orders from the judiciary, the EFCC, and the Nigeria Correctional Service. Additionally, they called upon the National Human Rights Commission and other civil society organizations to conduct independent monitoring of the case.
