The relatives of Michael Ekemezie, who was killed by law enforcement officers in Lausanne, Switzerland, on May 25, 2025, have appealed to the Nigerian community abroad through the Embassy of Switzerland in Nigeria and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, calling for a thorough inquiry into his demise.
The family reports that Ekemezie, a 39-year-old individual hailing from Mgbakwu within the Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State, supposedly fell ill and passed away at the police station under an hour after being detained.
A video that went viral on X (Twitter) captured the instance when the person who had passed away was held down by a Swiss law enforcement officer, screaming in agony and exclaiming, “You’re hurting me.”
In an interview with South-East PUNCH on Monday, Henry Ekemezie, the eldest sibling of the deceased, stated that his brother was pursued by law enforcement during a standard inspection. He mentioned further that when apprehended, he was restrained with cuffs and held facedown against the ground using excessive force from an officer, which ultimately led to his death.
In the plea submitted by his attorney, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, the family called for a comprehensive inquiry into Ekemezie’s demise and sought compensation for the unlawful execution.
The family has called upon the Swiss Embassy, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), authorities in Switzerland, and the Nigerian government to carry out a comprehensive, impartial, and open inquiry into the matter.
They additionally called for the public revelation of the names and positions of every officer implicated; prompt suspension and detention of these officers awaiting inquiry; an official expression of regret along with suitable remuneration for Michael’s relatives; and substantial changes to avoid similar misconduct from occurring again.
The petition directed at the Ambassador from the Embassy of Switzerland states, “We represent the relatives of the deceased Michael Kenechukwu Ekemezie, a Nigerian national who sadly passed away in Lausanne, Switzerland, on the night of May 25, 2025. This occurred amid highly concerning events linked with members of the Swiss police.”
Mr. Michael Kenechukwu Ekemezie, who holds Nigerian passport number A11558800, was born on April 23, 1986, and came from Anambra State, Nigeria.
He served as the main provider for his family and leaves behind a young spouse, two infants—a toddler boy who is two years old and an infant girl who is three months old—as well as four brothers and three sisters, everyone of whom relied on him.
Eyewitness statements and reliable reports provided to our client suggest that Mr. Ekemezie was subjected to severe and disproportionate use of force by members of the Swiss police, under conditions eerily similar to those surrounding the unfortunate demise of George Floyd in the U.S.
It is claimed that he was forcibly restrained with extreme force, leading to suffocation and eventually his demise. This deeply disturbing and unacceptable event has sparked intense anger and calls for justice and responsibility across the board.
So far, neither an official explanation has been provided to the grieving family nor have the Swiss authorities undertaken any significant efforts towards transparency, justice, or compensation.”
The ongoing silence and clear lack of respect for the value of human life and fair legal procedures in this matter represent a serious breach of Switzerland’s commitments under international human rights laws, specifically those outlined in the European Convention on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
As stated in the petition, the family is requesting that the Embassy promptly coordinate with the Swiss Federal and Cantonal authorities to start, or guarantee, an impartial, comprehensive, and open inquiry into the events leading to Mr. Ekemezie’s demise. This includes identifying and prosecuting every official implicated in the incident.
Those who perpetrated this cruel and illegal action must face full legal consequences, both criminal and civil. Nobody should have their life taken by those entrusted with safeguarding it. The Swiss government cannot permit such a serious wrong to remain unaddressed.
That the Swiss authorities grant prompt and unrestricted access to the autopsy report, body cam recordings (should they be available), witness testimonies, and all pertinent documents associated with the incident.
That the Swiss government assumes accountability for this unfortunate loss and offers complete compensation to the grieving family, addressing both their emotional and psychological distress as well as the unjust ending of a youthful and promising existence.
That assistance should be provided for the respectful return of Mr. Ekemezie’s remains to Nigeria, along with financial support for his funeral arrangements, as an act of humanity and recognition of our duty.
The family further expressed their distress over the lack of an official explanation being offered to them so far; they have not received any substantial communication, accountability, or attempts at achieving justice or compensation from the Swiss authorities.
They also request the urgent intervention of NIDCOM, in line with its statutory mandate to protect the rights and welfare of Nigerians in the diaspora. Specifically, seeking that NIDCOM immediately engages both the Swiss Embassy in Nigeria and the Nigerian Embassy in Switzerland to demand a full, independent, and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Mr. Michael KenechukwuEkemezie’s death.
“We thus implore the Commission to take prompt and resolute action in safeguarding the rights, dignity, and life of this Nigerian citizen. Should this issue not be granted the immediate consideration it requires, we stand ready to elevate the case to pertinent international human rights organizations such as the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the United Nations Human Rights Council,” the statement concluded.
Nevertheless, the Nigerian diaspora agency has stated that they will investigate the unfortunate and contentious demise of Ekemezie.
During an interview, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, who serves as the Director of Media, Public Relations, and Protocols at NIDCOM, referred to the incident as extremely sorrowful and regrettable.
“This is certainly not something we will approve of. Regardless of what actions the individual might have taken, they deserved a just process,” he stated.
Should we manage to collect all relevant details regarding his demise, we’ll release an official announcement. Additionally, if the family contacts us directly or submits a formal request, it would help us gain clearer insight into the events.
The commission informed the public that they are diligently striving to thoroughly investigate the issue.
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