Frm NBA GS, Chief Obegolu Writes Police DIG, Asks Police To Stop Harassing Clients In Obedience To Court Order

In a letter dated the 30th day of July, 2018 and signed by Emeka Obegolu, Esq. made available to TheNigerialawyer (TNL), the IGP’s attention was drawn to the continuous violation of their clients’ rights despite a subsisting court order. The Greenfield Chambers therefore urges the men of the Nigerian Police to stop harassing their clients and obey the rule of law. Below is the copy of his letter to The Deputy Inspector General of Police; 30^th July, 2018  The Deputy Inspector General of Police Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Department Area 10, Garki, Abuja Dear Sir, RE: CHIEF GEORGE ALI & 2 ORS V. INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE & 2 ORS (SUIT NO. CV/1952/18  CONTINUOUS HARASSMENT OF OUR CLIENTS The above subject matter refers. We are solicitors to Chief George Ali, Simon Ali and Monday Ali (the Applicants in the above mentioned matter) herein referred to as our Clients and it is on their instructions we act. Our Clients have been subject of harassment, threat, intimidation, incessant unlawful arrest and detention by the Nigerian Police Force on the instructions of Air Vice Marshal Emmanuel Ejeh Rtd over the sum of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) a loan that was taken by Mr. Anthony Ali the brother to our Clients. That the men of the Police force started threatening to arrest and incarcerate our Clients and as a result of the continuous threat, we approached the High Court for the enforcement of the Fundamental Rights of our Clients and obtained a restraining order against the Respondents from further arrest, harassment or threatening to arrest our Clients on the 13^th day of June, 2018 and same was duly served on all the parties. (Please find attached). In spite of the Order of Court, the men of the Police Force went ahead to arrest the 1^st Applicant (Chief George Ali) and kept him in custody for 72 hours, before they arraigned him at the Magistrate Court. That the Magistrate stated that since the matter was already before the High Court, parties should go back to the High Court and that the men of the Police Force should obey the Court Order and stop harassing the Applicants until the final determination of the suit before the High Court and as such the 1^st Applicant was released. That the men of the Police Force has commenced with the harassment and threat to arrest the Applicants again especially Mr. Simon Ali (the 2^nd Applicant) who just returned from the United States of America. That since the return of Mr. Simon Ali (the 2^nd Applicant), his right to freedom of movement as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has been violated as he has been afraid to move around for fear of been arrested by men of the Police Force over a loan that he neither was a surety nor guarantor. This is in spite of the subsisting order of the Court. That on the constant harassment of our Clients, a letter was written to your office requesting you to cause an investigation into this matter and ensure that the rule of law is obeyed. (Please find attached) We therefore use this medium inform you  that since there is a subsisting order of Court, we demand  you, your agents, officials and privies to desist from the illegal acts, incessant threat of arrest and continuous harassment been perpetrated on our Clients pending the determination of the matter or the vacation of the order of Court. Thank you. Yours faithfully, Greenfield Chambers Emeka Obegolu, Esq.  Cc:

1. The Inspector General of Police

Louise Edet House, Force Headquarters, Abuja-FCT

2. The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice

Federal Ministry of Justice, Shehu Shagari Way, Maitama, Abuja

3. Senator Abu Ibrahim

The Senate Committee Chairman on Police Affairs Room 221, Senate Building, National Assembly, Three Arms Zone, Abuja

4. Jika Haliru

The House of Representative Committee Chairman on Police Affairs National Assembly, Three Arms Zone, Abuja    ]]>