Rivers lawyer seeks justice over alleged police assault

Our reporter learnt that Okeahialam, who went to see his client on October 19 at his residence in Oginigba, Trans Amadi Layout, was assaulted by the policemen for allegedly staying in a ‘drug zone area.’ Okeahialam, who identified one of the policemen as Musa Muhammad, said he was waiting for his client when the officers entered the compound. He said, “When I opened the gate for them, they asked me what I was doing in the house and I was surprised that they could ask me that kind of question; so, I did not answer them. “When they walked in, they asked me again what I was doing in a drug zone and I told them that the house belonged to my client whom I was waiting for. Before I knew what was happening, one of the officers brought out handcuffs. “One of them suggested that they should arrest me. At that point, I introduced myself that I was a lawyer, but they did not listen to me. I wanted to show them my ID card, but they refused. “Before I knew what was happening, one of them slapped me. Another officer gave me a fist blow and called me a liar. Two guys that were sleeping in the house woke up; the officers arrested them and searched the house. “I asked them why they were searching the house without the consent of the owner; they said they were looking for something incriminating. I asked them if they got any information that something incriminating was in the house, but they did not answer me.” The 32-year-old lawyer, who noted that the officers dragged him outside the house, alleged that they attempted forcing him into their vehicle, but he resisted. He said a crowd quickly formed around the scene, as the officers called their boss on the telephone. “Their boss asked them if they found anything incriminating in the house and they said no. He asked to speak with me on the telephone. I introduced myself to him. The man became angry that they arrested me when they did not find anything incriminating on me,” he said. The lawyer, who noted that he had difficulty in eating because of the injuries on his jaw, said he wanted justice. The Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, Nnamdi Omoni, did not pick his mobile phone despite repeated calls by our correspondent. He had also yet to respond to a text message as of the time of filing this report]]>