The family of the late Michael Kenechukwu Ekemezie, a Nigerian citizen who was killed by the police in Lausanne, Switzerland, on May 25 2025, under troubling circumstances has demanded investigation to ascertain what happened.
According to them, the deceased from Anambra State was subjected to brutal and excessive force by the Swiss police officers, in circumstances disturbingly reminiscent of the tragic death of George Floyd in the United States.
The family in a petition by their lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, to the Swiss Ambassador to Nigeria and Nigeria Diaspora Commission, claimed that he was violently restrained, resulting in asphyxiation and, ultimately, death.
The incident has provoked widespread outrage and demands for justice and accountability.
While no official explanation has been communicated to the bereaved family, no meaningful effort has been made by the Swiss authorities toward transparency, justice, or reparations.
“The continued silence and apparent disregard for the sanctity of human life and due process in this case constitute a grave violation of international human rights obligations, particularly those enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Switzerland is a signatory”, Ejiofor said.
The family demanded as follows: “I view of the foregoing, and on behalf of our client, we hereby formally demand the following:
“Immediate and transparent investigation. The Embassy should urgently liaise with the Swiss Federal and Cantonal authorities to initiate, or ensure, an independent, thorough, and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ekemezie’s death, including the identification and prosecution of all officers involved.
“That all individuals responsible for this inhumane and unlawful act, be held criminally and civilly accountable to the fullest extent of the law. No individual should lose their life at the hands of those sworn to protect them. The Swiss Government must not allow this grave injustice to go unpunished.
“The Swiss authorities should provide immediate and unimpeded access to the autopsy report, body camera footage (if available), eyewitness statements, and all relevant documentation related to the incident.
“The Swiss Government should accept responsibility for this tragic loss and provide full compensation to the bereaved family, not only for their emotional and psychological trauma, but also for the wrongful termination of a young and promising life.
“Assistance should be rendered for the dignified repatriation of Ekemezie’s remains to Nigeria and that financial support be extended towards his funeral arrangements, as a humanitarian gesture and acknowledgment of responsibility.
“Switzerland is globally renowned for its commitment to human rights, the rule of law, and the dignity of human life. It is our earnest expectation that these principles will be upheld in addressing this grievous and avoidable tragedy.
“Kindly be assured that we are prepared to pursue all available legal, diplomatic, and international remedies, including petitions to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the United Nations Human Rights Council, and other appropriate international justice bodies, should this matter not be addressed with the urgency and seriousness it demands.”
Friday Olokor
Follow us on:
