The family of Mr. Michael Kenechukwu Ekemezie, an indigene of Anambra State, has called for a full, independent, and transparent investigation into his killing in Switzerland.
The family said Ekemezie was fatally assaulted by officers of the Swiss police in Lausanne on May 25.
The late Ekemezie had lived in Switzerland for over a decade.
His family said his life was cut short in a brutal encounter with law enforcement that bears chilling similarities to the infamous murder of George Floyd in the United States, exactly five years earlier.
“Sadly, history repeated itself on May 25, 2025.
“The footage emerging from Lausanne shows Michael, too, handcuffed and pinned face-down by an officer who used brutal force that proved fatal.
“Ekemezie’s distress was visible. His life could have been saved. But he was left there – ignored, unheard, and ultimately lifeless.
“No attempt was made to help him. He was subjected to lethal force that ultimately led to his death,” the family said in a statement by its lawyer, Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor.
The family said what was equally painful was not only the brutal manner of Ekemezie’s death but the deafening silence that followed it.
Ejiofor added: “Unlike the global response that followed George Floyd’s death, the murder of Mr. Ekemezie has received little to no coverage from major international media outlets such as CNN, BBC, or Al Jazeera.
“Within Nigeria, mainstream media has also largely remained silent.
“This silence is both unacceptable and deeply troubling, especially as it suggests a deliberate effort to downplay or conceal the brutal nature of the killing.
“It further suggests that Michael’s life, like those of many Africans, can be taken without consequence or even acknowledgement.
“In the face of this, Nigerians and other Africans residing in Switzerland have taken to the streets in protest, demanding accountability, transparency, and justice.
“Yet the response from the Swiss authorities has been lukewarm at best.
“Swiss authorities’ response thus far has failed to meet the minimum threshold of transparency and urgency required in such egregious cases of state-sanctioned violence.
“Upon being officially briefed by Mr. Ekemezie’s devastated family, our legal team immediately began the process of seeking justice through diplomatic and legal channels aimed at invoking all available international legal and diplomatic mechanisms.
“We have since submitted a detailed and strongly-worded petition to the Swiss Embassy in Nigeria, demanding the immediate identification, arrest, and prosecution of the officers involved in this heinous act.
“Among other things, our petition calls for: A full, independent, and transparent investigation into the incident; public disclosure of the identities and roles of all officers involved; immediate suspension and arrest of the officers pending investigation; an official apology and appropriate compensation for Michael’s family; and concrete reforms to prevent such abuse in the future.”
The family also petitioned the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) and other relevant government bodies, demanding prompt diplomatic engagement with the Swiss Government.
“The life of every Nigerian citizen, whether at home or abroad, must be treated with dignity and protected with resolve.
“This is not merely about one man’s death—it is about justice, dignity, and the sanctity of human life.
“It is about sending a clear message that Nigerian lives cannot be wasted with impunity and that the international community must not turn a blind eye when Africans are killed unjustly.
“We call on the Government of Switzerland to rise to its international obligations and ensure justice is done; the Nigerian Government to assertively demand answers and justice for its citizen; and international human rights organisations, civil society groups, and media platforms to speak out and shine a light on this gross injustice.
“As we mourn the painful loss of Mr. Michael Kenechukwu Ekemezie, we reiterate our unwavering commitment to pursuing justice through all lawful and diplomatic means, for him, for his family, and for all those whose lives have been marked by violence and silence.
“Justice must not only be done but must also be seen to be done.”
