The Human Rights Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Abuja Branch (Unity Bar) has intervened in the case involving a lawyer allegedly assaulted by a court staff at the Upper Area Customary Court, New Karu, Nasarawa State.
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According to a report signed by Vincent Adodo, Esq., Alternate Secretary of the Committee, the intervention followed a distress call indicating that a legal practitioner and member of the branch was being detained at the New Karu Area Command.
Upon receiving the alert, the committee promptly dispatched a delegation comprising the Chairman, Mr. Tony Idoko, the Alternate Secretary, Mr. Vincent Adodo, and member Mr. Ochili Michael, to ensure the protection of the affected lawyers.
On arrival at the Area Command, the team met with the Area Commander, ACP Tunde Osuman, who convened a meeting with the committee and principal parties involved in the matter. Present at the meeting was Isaac, a staff member of the Upper Area Customary Court who identified himself as the Registrar.
The registrar narrated that Kyenmil Grace Latwul, Esq., represented a defendant arraigned before the court on September 23, 2025, and granted bail. However, before the bail conditions were perfected, the defendant allegedly left the court premises with the lawyer and failed to return.
He further alleged that when another lawyer, Ikechukwu Godswill Nwaozichi, Esq., appeared in court on October 14, 2025, holding brief for Latwul, he invited the lawyer into his office to discuss the issue, but the lawyer declined. An argument ensued, leading to a physical altercation.
The registrar claimed that the lawyer struck him first, prompting him to “embrace” the lawyer in self-defense, during which the lawyer fell and sustained injuries. He denied striking the lawyer with a ring.
He also told the meeting that the magistrate had previously issued a warrant for Latwul’s arrest following her alleged failure to produce the defendant. Another lawyer, Idongesit Ekwere, Esq., reportedly insisted on being detained alongside his colleague if she was not released.
In her account, Grace Latwul, Esq. explained that her client’s bail conditions included depositing ₦300,000 as security. The defendant had offered to transfer the money electronically, but the registrar insisted on cash payment. The defendant was permitted to leave the court to source the cash, after which Latwul departed to attend to other matters, leaving the defendant in the court’s custody.
Later, the registrar began calling her to demand the defendant’s whereabouts, to which she responded that he was not in her custody.
She further stated that she had earlier filed a preliminary objection challenging the court’s jurisdiction and had briefed her colleague, Ikechukwu Nwaozichi, to appear on her behalf. Upon learning of the altercation and the purported arrest warrant, she rushed to the court and demanded to see the warrant before submitting herself to the police.
Latwul alleged that the registrar threatened to have her handcuffed and treated “like a common criminal.”
When the NBA delegation arrived, it was discovered that Grace Latwul, Ikechukwu Nwaozichi, and Idongesit Ekwere were all being detained. The committee immediately met with the Area Commander, who, after hearing from all parties, directed that the detained lawyers write their statements and be released on self-recognition.
The Vice Chairman of the NBA Keffi Branch, Ms. Rita, was also present to show solidarity on behalf of the Keffi Branch, under whose jurisdiction the incident occurred.
The intervention follows earlier reports by TheNigeriaLawyer that a lawyer was assaulted at the Upper Area Court 1, New Karu, allegedly under the supervision of Magistrate Evelyn Otusha Inarigu, over claims of failure to produce a defendant in court. The victim reportedly sustained injuries and was taken to the New Karu Police Area Command for medical attention.
Authorities at the command are said to be handling the situation as investigations continue.
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