Operatives of the Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday fired tear gas canister to disperse protesting lawyers who stormed the anti-graft agency’s office in Ibadan to protest against the detention of a lawyer.

Members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ibadan Branch had stormed the EFCC office in the Iyaganku area of the ancient city  to press for the release of their member, Philip Tunji Ojo, who was detained alongside a court bailiff while attempting to serve court documents on the anti-graft agency.

A statement by the branch chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Lawal, had noted that the branch “received with great displeasure the illegal and unlawful detention of one of our colleagues, Philip Tunji Ojo who was arrested today 21st August, 2024 for going about his lawful duty as a legal practitioner while following the Bailiff of the court to effect service of court process on EFCC.”

Lawal stated that “It is against this background that we demand for the immediate release of our colleague together with his personal belongings.

“However, in the event that our demands are not met, I Ibrahim LAWAL Esq., will be leading our colleagues to the EFCC office tomorrow morning for them to have more lawyers to arrest and detain.”

Making good his threat, Lawal led other branch members to storm the EFCC Office at Iyaganku, Ibadan.

He told CITY LAWYER that upon sighting the protesting lawyers, “an overzealous EFCC operative released a canister of tear gas to scare away our members.”

He said that the leadership of the EFCC Ibadan Office however “apologized for the incident,” adding that the branch member was “released unconditionally.”

Lawal told CITY LAWYER that following a meeting with the leadership, the parties hammered out some agreement ensuring that the EFCC does not compel lawyers to stand surety for suspects.

It was also agreed that a separate gate should be created to give easy access to lawyers who visit the office to offer services to their clients, even as the branch demanded that the anti-graft agency embarks on “internal cleansing” to ensure that operatives do not frustrate lawyers who visit the office while giving preferential treatment to other lawyers on their ‘special list.’

A statement by the branch on the debacle reads:

Distinguished Learned Silks, Seniors and Colleagues,

Good Evening.

The Executive Committee of the Nigeria Bar Association, Ibadan Branch, ably led by the Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Lawal; led members of the bar to EFCC Ibadan to express their displeasure over the unlawful arrest and detention of one of our colleagues and their manners of treating lawyers in an unmannered way.

The officers of the commission initially showed their lack of respect for lawyers by restraining lawyers from accessing the commission but they were called to order before the matter went out of the control.

The bar was received by the zonal Director and the following were agreed upon:

* Immediate release of our colleague with his personal belongings .
* lawyers shall not be compelled to stand as sureties for their clients.
* lawyers shall not be subjected to long queue with suspects and other visitors at the entrance of the commission,
* lawyers should copy the legal department of the commission every legal process involving the commission.
* that the office of the zonal Director shall be open for all lawyers at all time to express their displeasure about any activity of any officer of the commission.
* that the commission should report erring members to the Bar after which the bar shall refer the case to the Displinary (sic) Committee of the bar.

Given the foregoing, we want to encourage and advise our colleagues to always go to the commission with their identity cards to identify themselves as lawyers and not to hesitate to report any act not done in compliance with the law.

The Chairman while assuring members of the bar that he will keep to his campaign promises and make the bar a force to be reckoned with; thanked all members of the Bar who stood and gave the bar a voice and assured them that history shall be fair on them.

Please accept the sincerest regards of the bar.

Michael Akíntúndé Akinwunmi, Esq.
Publicity Secretary NBA-Ibadan Branch