A disturbing five-year campaign of alleged police persecution against Mr. Fidelis Egueke, a former senior management staff of Zenith Bank Plc, who had no criminal record prior to being targeted through a web of malicious legal actions has been uncovered, reports SaharaReporters.
A review of documents and court records shows that the sustained onslaught was allegedly masterminded by his estranged wife, Mrs. Blessing Uju Egueke, and her brother, Dr. Jude Ndudi, who are accused of manipulating the police to pursue personal and business vendettas.
Arrest and Detention Without Cause
The saga began in October 2020, when operatives from the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Alagbon Close, Lagos, acting on a petition by Dr. Ndudi and Mrs. Egueke, stormed Mr. Egueke’s home in Asaba, Delta State.
He was taken in a commando-style operation and detained for over two weeks without access to his family or lawyer. During the detention—at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic—the asthmatic banker reportedly collapsed multiple times and was hospitalized at the Police Hospital, Ikoyi.
While he was still in custody, his estranged wife allegedly changed the locks to their matrimonial home and secured a restraining order from Otuocha High Court in Anambra State, barring him from accessing the property.
Loss of Job and Freezing of Accounts
While Mr. Egueke remained in detention, Dr. Ndudi petitioned Zenith Bank, accusing him of fraudulently transferring ₦186 million. Although the bank’s internal review found the allegations baseless, Mr. Egueke was compelled to resign to avoid conflict of interest, as his wife serves as Managing Director/CEO of a loan company.
In a further twist, the FCID Alagbon allegedly procured a forged “Banker’s Order” purportedly from an Oyo State Magistrate Court to freeze his Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) accounts. Despite confirming the order was fake, GTBank restricted the account.
The Federal High Court, Lagos, later ruled in February 2022 that the freeze was unlawful, awarding ₦5 million in damages to Mr. Egueke. However, the police obtained another ex parte order (Suit No. FHC/L/CS/420/2022) to sustain the freeze—defying the judgment.
Dubious Charges and Contradictions
Further investigation found that the police filed multiple criminal charges against Mr. Egueke, including Charge No. FHC/298C/2020 at the Federal High Court, Lagos, and Charge No. CMA/17C/2024 at the Asaba Magistrate Court.
The primary accusation alleged that he “fraudulently converted ₦179.5 million” belonging to Global Select Investment Services Ltd., a company where he was a co-signatory. However, company records show all transactions were approved by the MD/CEO—his estranged wife, Mrs. Blessing Egueke.
Evidence further revealed that part of the alleged ₦179 million theft was, in fact, a ₦100 million personal loan extended by Dr. Ndudi to another company under a signed agreement. Court documents from Suit No. LD/ADR/3722/2021 confirmed repayment of ₦110 million, debunking the criminal claim.
Despite this, the police continued to prosecute Mr. Egueke even after Dr. Ndudi’s own lawyers, DO Crest Chambers, had issued a demand letter (28 October 2020) describing the sum as a “loan.”
Judicial Pushback Amid Continued Harassment
In April 2023, the Delta State High Court, Warri Division, in Suit No. W/91/FHR/23, condemned the repeated arrests and false petitions filed by Dr. Ndudi and Mrs. Egueke. The court described their actions as “an abuse of judicial process” and awarded ₦5 million in damages to Mr. Egueke.
Nevertheless, he was arrested again in September 2023 following fresh allegations related to a $46,900 loan supposedly used for his wife’s childbirth in the United States. Evidence showed that Mr Egueke personally paid $8,000 as his wife’s credit card covered the medical expenses.
A Magistrate Court in Asaba convicted him, despite a no case submission by his lawyer, but the Delta State High Court, sitting on appeal (Appeal No. DTHC/ASB/CRA/1/2025), overturned the conviction, ruling that the police had interfered in a purely civil matter.
Despite the appeal court’s scathing remarks, the Delta State Commissioner of Police has since appealed the ruling.
Alleged Influence and Conflict of Interest
SaharaReporters also discovered that Dr. Jude Ndudi, a non-practicing medical doctor based in Dallas, Texas, had donated vehicles to the Delta State Police Command—the same command that handled several of the complaints against Mr. Egueke.
The revelation raises concerns about undue influence and the impartiality of law enforcement in cases involving wealthy or politically connected individuals.
When contacted, Charles Eremi of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO)’s Corporate Communications Unit declined to comment, citing the ongoing litigation.
Abuse of Power and Legal System Manipulation
The SaharaReporters investigation, spanning from 2020 to 2025, highlights how police power in Nigeria can be exploited by private citizens to settle personal scores.
Despite multiple court victories clearing his name, Mr. Fidelis Egueke continues to battle the consequences of what he describes as a coordinated campaign of police harassment, job loss, and reputational damage.
This case, observers say, underscores the urgent need for accountability and reform within Nigeria’s law enforcement and judicial systems to prevent such abuses of power.
Source: SaharaReporters
