The Chairman of the Ilorin branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mohammed Akande was assaulted alongside two other lawyers, Mr. Luqman Olanrewaju and Dr. Mustapha Aduwa by fresh recruits of the Nigeria Police Training School, in the Challenge area of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, on Wednesday.
Trouble started for one of the lawyers Olanrewaju when he went to the police training college in response to a distress call by one of his clients within the premises as he was attacked while attempting to pass through the premises of the school.
According to Olanrewaju;
“They started calling me a fake lawyer. They asked me to produce my identity card, and I told them that I’m a private lawyer. At this point, they pounced on me, slapping and kicking me, while some used the stick gun in their hands to beat me.
At a point, they removed my shirt and trousers, leaving me with my boxers and singlet. They threw me up in the air and I fell on the ground. They later carried me and dumped me in their cell.”
Olanrewaju said further that he was assaulted under the supervision of one Adeyemi Mulikat, who, he suspected, was a teacher in the police training college.
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Narrating his experience, the NBA chairman said he went to the scene in company of another lawyer, Mr. Aduwa after receiving a distress call that on e of the bar members was being assaulted by policemen at the college.
“I received a distress call from one of our colleagues that a member was in crisis at the A Division Police Station, in the Challenge area and we both went there.
It was when we got there that we discovered that the incident occurred at the Police Training School section, and straight we met the headmaster who invited us to his office.
He told us that the whole issue was about thorough fare at the gate; that the lawyer was very rude which made him order his men to lock him up. Then I asked him to produce the lawyer from their cell.
When I saw my colleague I was almost crying. He was in boxers and singlet; with scars all over his body. Not even an armed robber deserves that kind of inhuman treatment. So, I told them to kill the lawyer, having beaten him that much.
In the process, an altercation ensued between us and l was also beaten by his officers; my tie was pulled severally and my shirt was roughened.” Akande said
The incident was confirmed by the Kwara State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ajayi Okasanmi, who said that the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fafowora Olaniyi, received a complaint that some men of the Nigeria Police, attached to the Police Training School, Ilorin assaulted the victims. He said further that the issue could have been easily resolved if professionalism was brought to bear by the parties concerned.
“The command wishes to state with every sense of responsibility that the situation is highly regretted; the command’s sympathy is extended to the victims, while investigation into the matter has been directed by the CP.” He said.