Renowned Nigerian human rights lawyer, Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has formally petitioned the Swiss government over the alleged extrajudicial killing of Mr. Michael Kenechukwu Ekemezie, a Nigerian citizen, by Swiss police officers in Lausanne.
The incident, according to Ejiofor, bears striking similarities to the murder of George Floyd in the United States exactly five years earlier.
In a statement titled "The Gruesome Extrajudicial Killing of Mr. Michael Kenechukwu Ekemezie by Swiss Police Officers in Lausanne, Switzerland," Ejiofor condemned the Swiss authorities for their inaction and expressed profound concern that the value of Black lives continues to be disregarded, especially when the victims are African nationals living abroad.
Mr. Ekemezie, a native of Awka South of Anambra State in Nigeria, had lived and worked in Switzerland for over a decade. On May 25, 2025, he was allegedly subjected to lethal police brutality in an incident captured on video, which reportedly shows him handcuffed, pinned face-down, and visibly distressed, while a police officer applied excessive force that ultimately proved fatal.
According to Ejiofor, the footage clearly shows that no effort was made to assist or resuscitate Michael, even as he lay motionless. His cries for help went unheard, and he was left to die in full view of those who were meant to protect life.
“No attempt was made to save him. He was subjected to lethal force, and ignored in his most vulnerable moment,until he became lifeless,” Ejiofor said.
In response, Ejiofor’s legal team has submitted petitions to both the Swiss Embassy in Nigeria and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), demanding a swift and transparent diplomatic intervention.
In the petition ,he said that every Nigerian life whether at home or abroad must be treated with dignity and protected without compromise.
The petition calls for the following urgent actions: A full, independent, and transparent investigation into the circumstances of Mr. Ekemezie’s death,Public disclosure of the identities and roles of all officers involved;The immediate suspension and arrest of the officers pending investigation.
He aldo demanded for An official apology to and adequate compensation for Mr. Ekemezie’s family and concrete institutional reforms to prevent future abuse and ensure accountability.
Ejiofor’s statement further criticized the global and local media silence following the incident. Unlike the global outrage that followed the death of George Floyd in 2020, Mr. Ekemezie’s case has received little to no coverage from major international news outlets such as CNN, BBC, or Al Jazeera. Even within Nigeria, mainstream media coverage has been minimal.
“This silence is not only unacceptable,it is alarming,” the statement read. “It suggests that the life of an African man can be taken without consequence or acknowledgment. We must resist this narrative.”
In the wake of the incident, Nigerians and other African nationals in Switzerland have organized street protests, demanding accountability and justice.
However, Ejiofor notes that the Swiss authorities’ response has so far been lukewarm and insufficient, failing to meet the basic standards of transparency, urgency, and human rights compliance expected in such egregious cases.
Following a formal briefing from the bereaved family, Ejiofor’s legal team initiated both diplomatic and legal proceedings, aimed at invoking international mechanisms for justice and human rights enforcement. The petition to the Swiss Embassy and other international actors reiterates that this case is not an isolated tragedy, but part of a larger pattern of racial injustice and disregard for African lives abroad.
“This is not just about one man’s death—it is about the sanctity of human life, the universal right to justice, and the urgent need for global accountability,” Ejiofor declared.“It is a clarion call to the Nigerian government to stand boldly in defense of its citizens. It is a plea to the Swiss government to rise to its human rights obligations. And it is a demand to the international community, human rights organizations, and media houses to break the silence and speak truth to power.” he stated.
Ejiofor concluded the statement with a firm vow:“As we mourn the painful loss of Mr. Michael Kenechukwu Ekemezie, we remain unwavering in our pursuit of justice for him, for his grieving family, and for all victims of violence and silence. Justice must not only be done, but must also be seen to be done.”
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