NBA Lagos Branch Condemns Brutalization of Mr. Temitayo Igunnu: Vows To Seek Redress Against The Nigerian Army And Bring The Perpetrators To Account

The Nigerian Bar Association, Lagos Branch, has issued a statement condemning the brutal attack against a member of its Branch, Mr Temitayo Igunnu, by some officers of the Nigerian army.

In a statement signed by the Branch Chairman, Yemi Akangbe, and made available to TheNigeriaLawyer (TNL), the Branch describes it as “brutal and outrageous treatment”.

Giving account of what transpired, the Branch says: “Our understanding from the information provided by Mr Igunnu himself was that the side mirror of his car was broken by a Naval officer who was driving a commercial bus around Bonny Camp. Rather than address the grievance of Mr. Igunnu, the said Naval officer resorted to threats of force with the aim of cowering him.

“In response to an altercation which ensued apparently from the intransigence of the Naval officer, Soldiers attached to the Bonny Camp Cantonment drifted from their professional calling and rules of engagement and constituted themselves as thugs and assaulted Mr. Igunnu, inflicting grievous bodily injuries on him. Mr. Igunnu was thereafter detained for hours without medical attention by the Soldiers. He was later moved to the Bar Beach Police Station and further detained until the intervention of the NBA Lagos Branch Secretary and other members of the Branch who secured his release.”

Therefore, the Branch condemns “in the strongest terms this unlawful and outrageous treatment on Mr. Igunnu by men of the Nigerian Army. It is regrettable that men of the Nigerian Army will abandon their honour and statutory line of duty to engage in infamous and ignoble conducts.

It is an inexplicable irony and collective embarrassment to Nigerians that the Army which has a statutory mandate of securing the territorial integrity of Nigeria is fast becoming a major threat to the security of innocent Nigerians. The brazen attack of Mr. Igunnu is impunity taken too far and we will respond appropriately as a Branch.

The Branch, under my leadership will not tolerate any form of dehumanizing treatment on its members by security agents and I want to assure Mr. Igunnu that the Branch will offer the necessary support to seek redress and bring the perpetrators of this attack to account.”