*Says It’s Disconcerting That EFCC Displays Such
Unprofessionalism
![image](/2020/10/lawreport.jpg")
![image](/2021/05/lawp.jpg")
The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has reacted to the statement
of EFCC on the alleged harassment and assault on the person of the
Chairman of Makurdi NBA Branch by officers of the Commission
(EFCC).
![image](/2021/05/NBASBL2021.jpg")
In a statement made available to Nairalaw signed by its
National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Rapulu Nduka, NBA says the stance
of EFCC is not consistent with the eye witness accounts of the
Attorney-General of Benue State and other officers of state
government
Therefore, the NBA pledges to get to the root of the matter.
Read details below
STATEMENT OF THE NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION ON THE ASSAULT
ON THE NBA MAKURDI BRANCH CHAIRMAN BY OPERATIVES OF THE
EFCC
On the 9th day of June 2021, the leadership of the Nigerian
Bar Association (“NBA”) received a report of unwarranted assault on
the Chairman of NBA Makurdi Branch – Mr. Justin Gbagir, by officers
of the Markudi office of the Economic and Financial Crime
Commission (“EFCC”), on the 8th day of June 2021. It was reported
that Mr. Justin Gbagir had gone to the EFCC Office to effect the
release of a member of the Makurdi Branch detained by the
EFCC.
Upon receipt of the said report, the leadership of the NBA
reached out to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (“EFCC”)
which promised to investigate same. However, our attention has been
drawn to a statement credited to Mr. Wilson Uwujaren – EFCC Head of
Media and Publicity, accusing Mr. Justin Gbagir as the aggressor
who led a team of thugs to the EFCC office.
From the report available to the NBA, during the incident,
Mr. Justin Gbagir was in the company of some senior members of the
profession and officers of the Benue State Government including the
AG of Benue State, the DPP, the Solicitor-General of the State, the
Senior Special Assistant of the Governor on Legal Matters and other
leading lawyers. Their eyewitness accounts completely contradict
the EFCC’s position.
The NBA frowns at any display of brute force by security
operatives against law abiding members of the public, and even more
particularly against members of the legal profession going about
their legitimate functions. It is disconcerting that such display
of unprofessionalism at the instance of a highly placed EFCC
operative, was exhibited in the presence of the Attorney-General of
Benue State and other senior members of the legal
profession.
The NBA President have since intervened in this matter and
is taking up this particular incident and the general harassment
and intimidation of lawyers by EFCC operatives with the leadership
of the EFCC.
The NBA pledges to get to the root of the matter and will
ensure that the officers behind such brazen acts of inhumanity are
brought to justice and that abhorrent acts of this nature do not
reoccur.
Dr. Rapulu Nduka
Publicity Secretary,
Nigerian Bar Association.
*Says It’s Disconcerting That EFCC Displays Such
Unprofessionalism
The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has reacted to the statement
of EFCC on the alleged harassment and assault on the person of the
Chairman of Makurdi NBA Branch by officers of the Commission
(EFCC).
In a statement made available to Nairalaw signed by its
National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Rapulu Nduka, NBA says the stance
of EFCC is not consistent with the eye witness accounts of the
Attorney-General of Benue State and other officers of state
government
Therefore, the NBA pledges to get to the root of the matter.
Read details below
STATEMENT OF THE NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION ON THE ASSAULT
ON THE NBA MAKURDI BRANCH CHAIRMAN BY OPERATIVES OF THE
EFCC
On the 9th day of June 2021, the leadership of the Nigerian
Bar Association (“NBA”) received a report of unwarranted assault on
the Chairman of NBA Makurdi Branch – Mr. Justin Gbagir, by officers
of the Markudi office of the Economic and Financial Crime
Commission (“EFCC”), on the 8th day of June 2021. It was reported
that Mr. Justin Gbagir had gone to the EFCC Office to effect the
release of a member of the Makurdi Branch detained by the
EFCC.
Upon receipt of the said report, the leadership of the NBA
reached out to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (“EFCC”)
which promised to investigate same. However, our attention has been
drawn to a statement credited to Mr. Wilson Uwujaren – EFCC Head of
Media and Publicity, accusing Mr. Justin Gbagir as the aggressor
who led a team of thugs to the EFCC office.
From the report available to the NBA, during the incident,
Mr. Justin Gbagir was in the company of some senior members of the
profession and officers of the Benue State Government including the
AG of Benue State, the DPP, the Solicitor-General of the State, the
Senior Special Assistant of the Governor on Legal Matters and other
leading lawyers. Their eyewitness accounts completely contradict
the EFCC’s position.
The NBA frowns at any display of brute force by security
operatives against law abiding members of the public, and even more
particularly against members of the legal profession going about
their legitimate functions. It is disconcerting that such display
of unprofessionalism at the instance of a highly placed EFCC
operative, was exhibited in the presence of the Attorney-General of
Benue State and other senior members of the legal
profession.
The NBA President have since intervened in this matter and
is taking up this particular incident and the general harassment
and intimidation of lawyers by EFCC operatives with the leadership
of the EFCC.
The NBA pledges to get to the root of the matter and will
ensure that the officers behind such brazen acts of inhumanity are
brought to justice and that abhorrent acts of this nature do not
reoccur.
Dr. Rapulu Nduka
Publicity Secretary,
Nigerian Bar Association.