Swiss government has reacted to the gruesome murder of Nigerian national, Mr Michael Kenechukwu Ekemezie by the Swiss police officers in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Ekemezie, a Nigerian citizen and an indigene of Anambra State, was fatally assaulted and killed by police officers in Lausanne, Switzerland, on the 25th May, 2025.
According to reports, Mr. Ekemezie, had lived in Switzerland for over a decade and his brutal encounter with law enforcement which cut short his life, hold same similarities to the infamous murder of George Floyd in the United States, exactly five years earlier.
Footage emerging from Lausanne shows Ekemezie, 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.
Ekemezie’s death spark protest in Switzerland as Nigerians and other Africans residing in Switzerland took to the streets in protest, demanding accountability, transparency, and justice.
Involving A Legal Team
Devastated over the death of their son, Ekemezie’s family reached out to Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor, who, through his chambers wrote to the Swiss government through their embassy in Nigeria and they responded.
Before their response, Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor’s legal team reported that they had demanded the Swiss government the following tasks:
1. A full, independent, and transparent investigation into the incident;
2.Public disclosure of the identities and roles of all officers involved;
3.Immediate suspension and arrest of the officers pending investigation;
4.An official apology and appropriate compensation for Michael’s family;
5.Concrete reforms to prevent such abuse in the future.
Swiss Government Response
Responding to the petition, the Swiss embassy in Nigeria in a letter dated 4th June, 2025, signed by Siamak Rouhani, said it acknowledged the receipt of the letter and will begin investigation immediately.
The letter read:
The Embassy of Switzerland acknowledges receipt of your letter dated 30 May 2025.
The Embassy would like to inform that the competent prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation about the death of a person of African origin on 25 May 2025 at a police station in Lausanne, Switzerland. The results of this investigation are pending.
In accordance with the principle of separation of powers and of the protection of personal data, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not hold any information concerning ongoing cantonal proceedings and cannot interfere in them.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs therefore has no information concerning the circumstances of this tragic event.
The deceased’s family and its agent supported by the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Bern can therefore interact directly with the competent cantonal authorities.
Yours sincerely,
Chargé d’Affaires a.i of Switzerland
Siamak Rouhani
