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The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Onitsha branch, has condemned the recent brutalisation of one of its members, Ogbonaya Jacob Obasi, by police officers attached to the Onitsha area police commander, ACP John Obuagbaka.
Chairman of the branch, Chief Ozoemena Erinne stated this in a press briefing held at the Bar Centre High Court premises in Onitsha.
Chief Erinne noted that such insults, humiliations and assaults on lawyers by policemen in Onitsha in particular and Anambra state as a whole, have become worrisome and frequent occurrence.
Erinne bemoaned the daily reports of police atrocious activities in Onitsha- Rambo style arrests of citizens on the streets or near their residents, as well as illegal detention of citizens in vehicles parked in the various police stations on frivolous charges.
The branch chairman also disclosed that there have been growing complaints of police extortion at gun points, adding that currently there is a charge against a serving divisional police officer in Onitsha High Court over assault of a female lawyer in her station.
While describing the assaults as ”brazen, callous, embarrassing, brutal and dehumanising,” he asked, “assuming the victim is not a lawyer who knows where he would be at the moment”, insisting that the NBA Onitsha branch will not relent until the culprits are brought to Justice to serve as deterrent to others
“On paper, Police is your friend, on ground, Police is your worst enemy. On paper, bail is free, on ground; bail is costly in police institutions. On our part, Onitsha bar has already taken positive legal step against the culprits and we promise to update you on the outcome, it only fools that parley with his enemies, lawyers are not fools, we know our enemies and are ready to fight to finish for our right.”
“We hereby call on affected civilians to report such cases to the human rights committee of NBA Onitsha branch for prompt action,” he urged.
