Dear colleagues,
For too long, we have bemoaned the seeming incessant reports of intimidation, harassment, brutality, unlawful detention, torture and general illegal behaviour by some errant police officers. Rather than protect lives and properties, we find one too many instances of unscrupulous police officers who throw caution to the wind and damn the consequences when dealing with suspects. We even have the trigger-happy ones, who drunk with power, are reckless and kill innocent citizens. We continue to mourn our beloved slain member, Mrs Bolanle Raheem but are grateful that the Court rose to the occasion and convicted the officer in question.
To exacerbate the problem, some police officers have extended their atrocious behaviour to even lawyers who are on lawful duty, representing their clients. The most recent report of Olumide Sonubi Esq. is one of several cases where counsel have been manhandled while rendering their professional legal service to the clients in custody.
This must stop! The Nigerian Bar Association, in furtherance of its core objectives including promoting the Rule of Law, condemns in toto, these wanton acts of illegality by some presumably unhinged policemen.
Thus, the Nigerian Bar Association – Securities Agencies Relations Committee (NBA-SARC), chaired by Chukwuka Ikwuazom SAN in conjunction with the five branches of the NBA in Lagos State viz, the Ikeja Branch led by their Chairman, Seyi Olawuni Esq., the Ikorodu Branch led by Idris Thany Esq., the Badagry Branch led by Emeka Orafu Esq., the Epe Branch led by Omotayo Omosehin Esq. and yours truly, the Lagos Branch led by our indefatigable Olabisi Makanjuola Esq. have organised a protest as a symbolic stand against these despicable incidents of police intimidation and brutality.
The protest will be in the form of a march from the Ikeja Branch Bar Centre to the Office of the Commissioner of Police of Lagos State.
We enjoin all well-meaning lawyers in Lagos State to eschew apathy and join this epoch-making protest garbed in our formal suits.
The protest is scheduled to hold this Thursday 11th January 2024. We beseech our colleagues to converge at Ikeja Branch Bar Centre at 10am whence we will march in one accord, bold and strong to the Office of the Commissioner of Police of Lagos State.
It will be a peaceful but effectual protest.
I hope to see you all there.
Emuobonuvie Alfred Majemite
Secretary