*Demands Repatriation of Corpse
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, demanded an 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.
Already, there is protest and panic among the Nigerian community in Switzerland following the incident.
The family in a petition by their lawyer, Ifeany Ejiofor, to the Swiss Ambassador to Nigeria and Nigeria Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), said 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 the Embassy shou 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.”
Also in a statement, Ejiofor said Ekemezie, had lived in Switzerland for over a decade working hard like many others in pursuit of a better life before his life was cut short in a brutal encounter with law enforcement —an encounter that bears chilling similarities to the infamous murder of George Floyd in the United States, exactly five years earlier.
He said, “We remember how the world watched in horror on May 25 2020 when George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, was murdered in cold blood- a White police officer knelt on his neck for over nine minutes while Floyd was handcuffed and lying face-down on a street in Minneapolis. His final words/dying cries, his helplessness, and the silence of those around him, sparked global reckoning with racial injustice and police brutality.
“Sadly, history has 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. His distress was visible. His life could have been saved. But he was left there- ignored, unheard, ultimately lifeless. No attempt was made to help him. He was subjected to lethal force that ultimately led to his death.
“What is equally painful is not only the brutal manner of Ekemezie’s death but the deafening silence that has followed it. 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 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;
“Concrete reforms to prevent such abuse in the future.
“We have also formally petitioned the Nigerians in the 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 citizens;
“International human rights organizations, 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.”
