NBA Condemns Police Assault On Lawyer At Abuja Cybercrime Center, Demands Justice
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has strongly condemned the brutal assault on lawyer Ernest Chukwuemeka Okpaga by police officers at the Nigeria Police Force National Cyber Crime Centre in Abuja.
The incident, which took place on December 19, 2024, occurred while Okpaga was representing his client, human rights activist Abiodun Olamide Thomas, who had been detained without medical attention despite her deteriorating health.
In a statement jointly signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the NBA’s National Litigation Committee, Ama Etuwewe, SAN, and Isah Abubakar Aliyu, respectively, the association demanded accountability from the police officers involved. The NBA described the attack as “heinous and unwarranted,” pointing out that it was a clear violation of Okpaga’s fundamental human rights and a direct affront to the legal profession.
According to reports, Olamide Thomas, who suffers from asthma and peptic ulcer, had been detained for a week without medical care, causing her health to significantly worsen. On December 19, Thomas collapsed at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) in Abuja due to complications from her conditions, including ongoing bleeding since Monday.
Thomas, a professional nurse, was arrested on December 13, 2024, at her Lagos home for criticizing the actions of Nigeria Police Force officers. Following her arrest, she was transferred to Abuja under the instructions of Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun. During questioning, Thomas’s condition worsened, and after giving her statement, she collapsed. Okpaga, her lawyer, demanded immediate medical care for his client, but instead of addressing the situation, police officers responded by assaulting him and detaining him in an interrogation room alongside his unconscious client.
The NBA Litigation Committee condemned the police’s actions, calling them “a blatant violation of the rule of law.” It emphasized that such conduct demonstrated a disregard for decency and the rights of individuals, and reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring justice for Okpaga and holding the responsible officers accountable.
The association vowed to file an official complaint with the relevant authorities and pursue legal redress to enforce Okpaga’s rights. It also called for swift action to be taken against the police officers involved in the assault.
Background reports from SaharaReporters revealed that Thomas’s arrest stemmed from her criticism of police misconduct, which had made her a target of law enforcement. Her detention at the National Cyber Crime Centre in Abuja, where she was reportedly denied administrative bail and subjected to inhumane conditions, has raised concerns about police overreach and the treatment of detainees.
The NBA has called for a thorough investigation into the incident, urging the police to hold the officers accountable for their actions. The association’s statement serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggles for human rights and justice within the Nigerian legal and law enforcement systems.
