Godsent Ogbebor
Swiss Police Under Probe After Nigerian Dies in Custody
Swiss authorities have launched an investigation into the death of 39-year-old Nigerian, Michael Ekemezie, who reportedly died in police custody in Lausanne on May 25 after being forcefully restrained by officers.
Ekemezie, a native of Mgbakwu in Awka North, Anambra State, was said to have collapsed shortly after he was taken into custody during a routine police check. A viral video showed him pinned to the ground, crying out, “You’re hurting me,” before he was taken away by officers.
His family claims he was chased, handcuffed, and held face-down by a Swiss officer using excessive force. They say he died less than an hour later inside the station.
Following the incident, the family, through their lawyer, Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, petitioned the Swiss Embassy in Nigeria and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, demanding an independent probe into the incident.
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They expressed concern that no official contact had been made by the Swiss or Nigerian governments since the incident occurred.
In a letter dated June 4, the Swiss Embassy acknowledged the petition, confirming that the competent prosecutor’s office in Lausanne has opened an investigation.
The letter, signed by Chargé d’Affaires Siamak Rouhani, cited the country’s legal restrictions on sharing details of active cases but assured the family that due process was underway.
The family, in response, welcomed the move but insisted that justice must not be delayed or buried under legal technicalities. Their lawyer emphasized that the case was not just a legal matter but a human tragedy that demanded full transparency and accountability.
They called on both governments and international bodies to ensure a fair and thorough investigation, stating, “A young Nigerian life was lost under troubling circumstances. The truth must come out.”
