Lawyer Assaulted In Viral Video Narrates Ordeal In The Hands Of Officers Of The Nigeria Customs Service

The Lawyer allegedly assaulted by officials of the Nigeria Custom Service in a video that has now gone viral has given a first-hand explanation of what transpired on that fateful day.

The lawyer provided his narration at a meeting with the Nigerian Bar Association Security Agencies Relations Committee (NBA-SARC).

Recall that in reaction to the video which has since sparked widespread condemnation from lawyers and the general public alike, the Gadzama-led Nigerian Bar Association-Security Agencies Relations Committee (NBA-SARC) had written to the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, condemning the acts of the NCS as seen meted out to the lawyer.

The NBA-SARC further released a statement condemning the act of the NCS and urgently made a public invitation to the  Legal Practitioner in the viral video or anyone with relevant information on  the identity, name and/or  NBA Branch of the victim , to come forward ahead of the NBA-SARC’s planned visit to the NCS. In accord with this urgent appeal, the NBA-SARC has successfully unravelled the identity of the Legal Practitioner in the viral video.

The Legal Practitioner identified as Kolawole Isaac Abubakar, Esq., a senior lawyer at Refuge Chambers who hails from Kogi State in his meeting with the Chairman of the NBA-SARC, Joe-Kyari Gadzama, SAN on Sunday, February 27, 2022, Mr. Abubakar informed the Learned Silk that he was detained by the NCS for 3 hours on the fateful day in September 2021.

Also, in the course of the meeting, certain facts shedding light on what actually transpired and the circumstances leading to the altercation were revealed by the lawyer.

According to the lawyer;

1. The mobile phone which was used to record the dastardly incident was damaged and as a result of this, the video could not be made public as soon as the incident occurred.
2. The recording of the viral video was only retrieved recently and thus, the decision to make it public now.
3. Also, Kolawole Abubakar Isaac, Esq. has since given the NCS a pre-action notice to sue them.
4. Kolawole Isaac Abubakar, Esq. further narrated that leading to the assault by officers of NCS, one Alhaji Danjuma Aliyu engaged the legal services of Refuge Chambers to represent him in ensuring the release of his vehicle which was held in the custody of NCS.
5. That on the receipt of a letter from Refuge Chambers, NCS invited Refuge Chambers for a meeting and Kolawole Isaac Abubakar, Esq. being a senior lawyer at Refuge Chambers was instructed to attend the meeting at the customs headquarters along with the Client.
6. On arrival, they were directed to an officer named F.C Nweze. At the office of F.C Nweze, questions were being asked and when Barr. Kolawole Isaac Abubakar attempted to explain the situation and the position of the law, the officer in charge (F.C Nweze) got angry and ordered that the lawyer be bundled and detained in the detention facility at the headquarter and as a result of that he was brutalized and harassed.

Kolawole Isaac Abubakar, Esq. utilized the opportunity to apologize for the delay in the release of the video and for his omission to report the matter formally to the NBA, which had led to some tension in the legal community. He stated that he is handling the matter for his client’s vehicle as well as pursuing a civil suit against NCS for damages. He expressed his gratitude to Chief Gadzama and the NBA-SARC for their efforts which had brought succor to many legal practitioners, particularly the younger members of the profession.

In response, Chief Gadzama stated that in line with the mandate of the committee, NBA-SARC is now intervening in the matter and would continue to ensure that justice prevails in this matter and in every other matter that involves the maltreatment and harassment of legal practitioners by security agents across Nigeria.