The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Kano Branch has accused the Kano State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Nigerian Police Force of intimidating one of its members, Mustapha Abubakar Adam, Esq., following his arrest and detention, and has called on lawyers to attend court in solidarity with him.
The allegation was contained in a statement signed by the newly sworn-in Chairman of the NBA Kano Branch, Sani Ammani, who described the incident as an attack on the legal profession and vowed that the association would resist what he termed institutional bullying against its members.
According to the statement, Adam was detained on Tuesday, June 30, on the orders of the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Kano, after he reportedly challenged the conduct of the officer’s orderly for denying him access to represent his client despite waiting for about 40 minutes while other persons, including the opposing party, were allowed in.
The branch said Adam’s only “offence” was describing the treatment as “unbecoming,” adding that he was released shortly before midnight following the intervention of the leadership of the association.
The statement further disclosed that the leadership of the NBA Kano and Ungogo branches met with the Commissioner of Police and the DC CID on July 1 in an effort to resolve the matter amicably.
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During the meeting, the DC CID reportedly admitted that his actions were based on the advice of the Officer Commanding (OC) Legal, who interpreted Adam’s use of the word “unbecoming” as an insult to a police officer.
Although the meeting ended on what appeared to be a conciliatory note, the association alleged that both the Commissioner of Police and the DC CID later reversed their position by insisting that the lawyer must tender a written apology.
“The NBA Kano Branch will not capitulate to institutional bullying,” Ammani said.
He disclosed that the association had assisted Adam in obtaining a court order restraining the police from arresting him again in connection with the matter.
The chairman also said the branch had received credible information that the police had hurriedly filed a First Information Report (FIR) against the lawyer and summoned him to appear before Magistrate Court No. 54, Gyadi Gyadi, Kano, on Friday.
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“An attack on one lawyer in the line of duty is an assault on the entire legal profession. We cannot fold our arms and allow our members to be criminalised or intimidated for performing their duties,” Ammani said.
He called on members of the association to attend the court proceedings in large numbers to demonstrate solidarity with their colleague and defend the integrity of the legal profession.
