There was a mild drama at the Osun state High Court, Osogbo, on Tuesday, as a prison warden slapped a lawyer, Mr. Kasiamobi Eze Ngwoke.
According to an eye witness, the prison official had slapped one of the inmates who was slow in entering the prison van after the court proceedings.
It was gathered that the lawyer who was apparently not happy with the way the inmate was treated, approached the warden to educate them that the inmate has not been convicted and his personal liberty should be respected.
Eye witness account revealed that the inmate is a client of Mr. Ngwoke.
The prison warden who was said to be unhappy with the manner of approach of the lawyer slapped him and threatened to shoot him.
The Magistrate, Mrs. Modupe Awodele, who was watching the drama from the court summoned the lawyer and the prison officials.
The Magistrate was said to have cautioned the prison officials that they have no right to maltreat or assault an accused, let alone a lawyer.
The Magistrate was said to have directed the lawyer to take appropriate legal action against the prison officials.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) had since waded in the assault by the prison officials against one of its own.
A statement released on Thursday night by the National Publicity Secretary of the association, Kunle Edun explained that the NBA President, Paul Usoro (SAN) has directed that the national secretariat interface with the Osogbo branch for further action to seek redress.
See full statement below:
UPDATE ON THE REPORTED CASE OF ASSAULT AGAINST A LAWYER IN OSOGBO
Information on the assault against a lawyer in Osogbo, involving one Mr Kasiamobi Eze Ngwoke, a member of NBA Osogbo branch, went viral on the social media. The NBA President, Paul Usoro, SAN, immediately directed that the National Secretariat should interface with the Chairman of Osogbo branch for further information.
Our engagement with the Chairman of Osogbo branch, Abdulrahman Okunade, revealed that on the 16th day of July, 2019, Mr. Ngwoke reported to him that he was assaulted by a prison official in the course of performing his lawful duties to his client, who was being “rough-handled” by the prison official. It was in trying to intervene and advise the prison official not to rough handle his client, that the prison official slapped him. The incident occurred within the premises of the Osun State High Court at Osogbo. The Magistrate Court is also within the same premises.
We were further informed that the presiding Magistrate in whose court Mr. Ngwoke’s client is standing trial got wind of the incident and invited the parties to his Chambers; where upon being briefed, advised Mr. Ngwoke to seek legal redress against the prison official that slapped him.
Mr. Ngwoke was advised to submit a formal petition to the branch for necessary follow up and actions. As at 8pm today, the formal complaint was still yet to be submitted to the branch.
However, while expecting that Mr. Ngwoke will forward a formal complaint to the branch, we have been informed by the branch Chairman, that the the branch Executive has already suspended their pre-scheduled visit to the Federal prison, Osogbo, which was part of institutions that the Exco intended visiting.
Gentlemen, be assured that the NBA would ensure that the assault on our colleague would not go without it being fully addressed. The National Secretariat will continue to liaise with the branch and in conjunction with the branch, presently weighing the best legal option(s) for redress, not only for Mr. Ngwoke but the assault on the legal Profession.
The NBA President expresses his gratitude to the Chairman and members of NBA Osogbo branch for being proactive and standing firm against the unjustified assault on our colleague.
Kunle Edun
National Publicity Secretary, Nigerian Bar Association.
