Ebuka Bernard, an Aba-based digital fabric vendor, has finally regained possession of his iPhone 16 from the Abia State Police Command following sustained public scrutiny of his case.
The development follows reports highlighting how security operatives took Bernard into custody simply for detailing his labor dispute with Esther Ogudo, his previous employer who reportedly refused to pay him for seven years of service.
Bernard was originally apprehended on July 1 and locked in a holding cell for three days before securing his freedom on July 4. At the time, law enforcement figures admitted his detention stemmed directly from airing his grievances to the press.
Although he was eventually let go, officers held onto his handheld device, claiming it was needed for investigative purposes despite failing to present a search warrant or specify a return date.
The seizure crippled Bernard’s online enterprise. He stressed that the device was an indispensable commercial asset, specifically purchased for taking high-resolution pictures and videos of his fabric stock to drive sales.
Despite Abia State Police spokesperson Maureen Chinaka’s intervention inviting Bernard to present his case at her office, the case officers hindered him from securing that audience.
The prolonged impasse concluded on October 8 when the police formally summoned the fabric trader to reclaim the gadget. After receiving his property, Bernard expressed profound appreciation for the reporting that secured the device’s retrieval.
