NSCDC Brutality: Court Orders Maiduguri Civil Defence officers to pay bail seeking lawyer N1.9 Million in Damagaes
A Bornu State High Court has ordered officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps to pay the sum of N1.960,000 to a young Lawyer, I M Kaumi Esq as damages for the brutality he suffered at the Station while trying to represent a client and secure his bail.
Below is a report from our source in Maiduguri:
One I.M. Kaumi Esq, member of the Nigerian Bar Association, Maiduguri branch went to the NSCDC office together with his colleague, J. Yakubu, a friend, Mohammed Hasssan and his client over a matter which the client briefed him about at his office.
On reaching the NSCDC head office, he inquired about the Investigating officer and was informed he was not around at the material time. The officer then asked him why such a visit and while narrating the fact of the issue, one Mohammed Adam Bagale, the head of the Intelligence Unit rudely interrupted and started shouting at the Counsel. The said Mohammed Adam Bagale then ordered his men to take the client and lock him up, which they did immediately.
The said Mohammed Adam Bagale asked about the whereabouts of the Investigating Officer, that he should come and explain to him how much he was given that caused him to release the suspect who went and brought these useless people. The useless people referred to are the Counsel, I.M. Kaumi and J. Yakubu. Then I.M. Kaumi responded that we are not useless, but we’re only here to do our job just as you’re doing your job.
Then the said Mohammed Adam Bagale immediately rained heavy punches on I.M. Kaumi and ordered his men to assault I.M. Kaumi and likewise drag him out of the office of the Intelligence Unit and as a result he sustained injury on his right eye upper side and his jacket torn.
On their way to take him out, the said Mohammed Adam Bagale then ordered his men to lock him up in the cell of which they dragged him to the cell, opened the cell then changed their mind. They dragged him out. I.M. Kaumi asked his friend Muhammad Hassan to snap him a picture, the said Mohammed Adam Bagale immediately ordered his men to cease the phone which they later force the friend to open the phone, they transferred the picture and deleted it from the friend’s phone.
They now said since I.M. Kaumi wants to show them he knows how to snap, they’ll teach him. They now went inside and brought out the said client who was in the cell, they ordered the men at the gate to stop I.M. Kaumi’s vehicle from leaving the premises, the said Mohammed Adam Bagale ordered his men to open the back door of I.M. Kaumi’s vehicle, which they did, and forced the client into the vehicle then snapped pictures.
Again, the said Mohammed Adam Bagale came and hit the bonnet of I.M. Kaumi heavily and challenged him that he couldn’t do anything to him and also ordered his men to never allow I.M. Kaumi into the NSCDC office.
I.M. Kaumi’s colleague, J. Yakubu then off Kaumi’s vehicle, held him by hand and walked him out of the NSCDC premises, then went in and brought out I.M. Kaumi’s vehicle. I.M. Kaumi immediately rushed to the nearby chemist for first aid and was advised by the Chemist to go to hospital for proper check which he later went to.
The Court awarded all the reliefs sought by the Applicant.
See the Judgement order below:
