Fresh developments have emerged in the controversial death of Patrick Peresuodei, as a formal petition has been submitted to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), seeking the transfer of the investigation from the Bayelsa State Police Command to the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
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The petition, dated February 10, 2026, was filed by Arthur & Co Legal Practitioners on behalf of Mr. Bodmas Kemepadei. It calls for what the lawyers describe as an “independent and transparent investigation” into the circumstances surrounding Peresuodei’s death.
According to the petition, Peresuodei was arrested on January 15, 2026, at his residence in Amassoma, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. He was subsequently transferred to the Nigeria Police outfit, Operation Puff Adder, in Yenagoa.
The legal representatives stated that the arrest followed an alleged Facebook post and video in which Peresuodei was accused of threatening their client. They noted that after his arrest, Peresuodei was expected to be charged to court on January 20, 2026.
However, events reportedly took a different turn.
The petition claims that on the evening of January 20, the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) informed the petitioner that Peresuodei was “acting irrationally and speaking in strange tongues” and had been taken to the hospital. He was said to have been granted administrative bail and asked to return on January 26 for possible arraignment.
The situation escalated on January 30, when news of Peresuodei’s death surfaced on social media. The petitioner reportedly contacted the IPO, who confirmed the death.
In the petition to the IGP, the lawyers expressed concern over widespread allegations and counter-allegations circulating online.
“The entire social media landscape is awash with the news of the death of Mr. Patrick Peresuodei, and insinuations of complicity of officers of Operation Puff Adder,” the petition stated.
The legal team further argued that given the nature of the allegations, the Bayelsa State Command should not lead the investigation.
“Prudent and common sense should dictate that in view of the facts and circumstances, the investigation should not be led by the State Command of the Police, whose officers are likely to be held complicit in the incident,” the petition read.
They requested that the case file be transferred to the Force Headquarters in Abuja or, alternatively, that a high-powered investigative panel be constituted to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death.
“The grant of this request has become imperative to restore confidence in the Force and to ensure that justice is done to the deceased and the family,” the lawyers stated.
The petition also indicated that their client is willing to make himself available at short notice to provide his account of events.
The death of Patrick Peresuodei has generated widespread public attention, with civil society groups and concerned citizens calling for transparency, accountability, and justice. As authorities deliberate on the petition, many await official clarification on the next steps in the investigation.
