An Onitsha based lawyer by the name, O.J. Obasi Esq., was
reportedly assaulted by some men of the Nigeria police for simply
intervening in the case of a citizen who was pummeled at the
roadside.
In a video that was shared on the social media, the said lawyer
was seen discussing with some policemen when one of them attacked
him and started battering him mercilessly. The policeman was joined
by another colleague of his who also battered Mr. Obasi to the
ground. It took the intervention of some persons, including a
police officer who was on camouflage uniform to calm the situation.
According to a friend of the victim, Ifeanyi Agwuncha Esq., who
also shared the video and called for justice of the victim, he was
assaulted and viciously beaten for simply finding out what happened
and to ameliorate the situation.
After confirming the story in the shared video,
TheNigerialawyer (TNL) put a call through to Mr.
Ifeanyi Agwuncha Esq., to ascertain the veracity of the story, but
he did not pick. Thereafter, the Chairman of NBA Onitsha branch,
Ozoemena Erinne was contacted, but he also did not pick his call.
However, the victim, O.J. Obasi Esq., when contacted responded and
confirmed the story to be true. According to him, his offence was
simply intervening in the case of a young man whose right was
violated.
“I came down to pick something from my car to file in court.
When I came down, I saw a group of people, looking in a particular
direction. I saw someone on the ground lying, being beaten by a
group of policemen – about six to seven of them. I saw the man
rolling on the ground being beaten with their hands, booths, and
the head of their guns. I then stated that if something is not
done, the man may die, and that even if he committed any offence,
the right thing to do is to take him to the police station. I was
far from where the scene was, so I made a sign, and then two police
officers looked at my direction. I then pleaded on behalf of the
man that he should be taken to the police station. One of them then
left the scene and walked up to me and asked what my interest was.
I told him I have no interest, but that he should be taken to the
police station because he may be incapacitated or seriously injured
if the beating continues. I was then asked by the policeman who I
was to intervene. I responded by telling him that I am no one, but
I was simply pleading that the man be taken to the station. That
was how the beating began.
“I wasn’t even aware someone was videoing the whole scene. I
even declined to make comment. The boy they were beating came and
kneeled down, begging them to leave me alone. I do not even know
him. But I wondered how we can watch people who were supposed to be
securing us turning around to beat us. That was my offence. I have
gone to the hospital. They broke my jaw. I have gone to the
hospital; they said I should come back to the Hospital. It appears
there is an injury in my head.”
When asked if he has been contacted by the Police, he said that
some numbers called him, which he suspected to be that of some
policemen through the help of “true caller”. By then, I didn’t know
there was a video. It was when I saw the video that I suspected why
the calls came through. I currently do not pick their calls. The
NBA Chairman of Onitsha and other members of the branch called
me.
He also added that somebody attempted to video the initial
incident, but ran away so that he will not be apprehended. He
further said that one of the policemen pleaded with him not to take
the matter up, and that he told him that God will take it up, not
knowing that someone was videoing the whole scene.
TNL, after gathering his own account put a call across to one SP
Haruna Muhammed to hear the account of the Nigeria police. As at
the time of filing this report, the Nigeria Police was to yet to
respond to the video or the allegation.