By Michael Babatunde.
Members of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Ekiti State Branch, has taken their grievances to the State Headquarters of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, over an alleged assault on its member by an officer of the security outfit on 5th April, 2023.
According to the NBA Chairman, Ikere Ekiti branch,Dr Michael Afolayan, one David Omotuase (the erring officer) assaulted Barrister Deji Aina by slapping him over a trivial matter.
The Lawyer was said to have visited Ado-Ekiti Division Office on 5th April to represent a client who was locked up at the station overnight. Aina was said to have introduced himself as a Lawyer, but was rubbished by the said officer which eventually resulted into the assault.
Ekiti NBA noted that the erring officer had also assaulted Lawyers in the state on three instances before the recent case.
The Body therefore requested for the immediate removal of David Omotuase and tasked the Command to bring him into justice within their administrative competence.
In his words, “We are here to meet with the commandant of NCSDC who invited us for a peace parley as a result of our member, Barrister Deji Aina, who was assaulted (slapped) in Ado-Ekiti division office by the divisional officer at post office, David Omotuase on 5th April.
“Deji Aina was at the Divisional officer to represent a client who was locked up at the station overnight.
“When he got there, he introduced himself to Mr David Omotuase as a Lawyer but he said he should get out of the office and wait for them in court.
“Our lawyer resisted but the erring officer threw an abusive statement at him. Our officer debunked it but was slapped instead.
“This officer we are talking about has done it to other Lawyers before, we have about three instances of what he has done to Lawyers.
“We will take steps to ensure that this erring officer, David Omotuase is brought to justice especially within their administrative competence while we are also taking steps and as a body of lawyers, take necessary steps to ensure the rights of our member is redressed.
“As far as we are concerned, we want to see some steps being taken on their own side while we continue to explore the organogram of our Organisation to see what the national body’s directive will be and we will take further steps from there.” He said
In his response, the state NSCDC Commandant, John Fayemi described the action of the erring officer as against the ethics of the force, while appealing to the Body to be calm, as administrative punishment will be initiated on him.