Members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Ekiti have protested over the alleged assault melted on one of their colleagues by an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in the State.
The aggrieved lawyers who matched from the popular Fajuyi park to the state headquarters of the NSCDC located along Ado- Ikere-Ekiti road condemned the assault by the officer identified as David Omotuase on one of them, Deji Aina on April 5, 2023.
Speaking at the premises of the NSCDC, the chairman of the Ikere-Ekiti branch of the NBA, Dr Michael Afolayan explained that the erring officer had also allegedly assaulted lawyers in the state on three instances before the recent incident.
Afolayan who disclosed that the lawyer had written a petition to the national headquarters of the NBA for further action, called on the authorities of the state command to do everything possible to discipline the officer in line with the internal measures of the corps.
He said, “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.
” 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. He introduced himself as a Lawyer but was rebuffed by the said officer which eventually resulted in the assault.
“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 other organs of our organisation to see what the National body’s directive will be and we will take further steps from there.”
Responding, the NSCDC commandant in Ekiti state, John Fayemi condemned the action of the officer to the lawyer, saying it is against the rules and regulations guiding the conduct of officers of the corps.
Fayemi who appealed to the body of lawyers over the unfortunate incident noted that internal administrative punishment would be initiated on the officer towards serving as deterrence to others in the State.
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