Mr. Adesina Ogunlana, the immediate past Chairman of the Ikeja Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association and presidential aspirant in the forthcoming 2020 national elections of the Nigerian Bar Association graced the mass protest called by the Maiduguri Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association to demand end to harassment of her members by the officials of the Nigerian Police Force.
This was made known in a press statement issued by Ayo Ademiluyi, the Director of Media, Strategy, Publicity and Communications of the #ProgressiveBar2020.
It would be recalled that Mr. Ogunlana took a noon flight from Lagos to Maiduguri on Sunday, 27th October, 2019 and was warmly received by the leadership of the Maiduguri Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association.
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| Adesina Ogunlana with Sadiq Kachalla |
It would also be recalled that the Maiduguri Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association scheduled a protest for Monday, 28th October, 2019 against police harrassment of her member, A. Kachallah Esq., who was unlawfully detained by officers of the Nigerian Police Force.
Taking to his popular Facebook wall, Mr. Ogunlana narrated the proceedings of the protest thus:
"At about 9:10 am , Mr Mohammed Umaru, the Chairman of NBA Maiduguri , sitting with his Executive members addressed the Branch members gathered at the Bar Centre, numbering about 65 . He spoke on the previous efforts on the issue at hand and read out the contents of the protest letter the Branch would be submitting to the Borno state Police Command , to the rousing approval of the memers.
He annnounced in the presence of colleagues from outside jurisdictions like Ikeja (my humble self), Abuja and Damaturu . Our colleague from Abuja , Aljali Askira , Esq and my humble self, with the kind permission of the Chairman gave short solidarity remarks. The Chairman announced that members would move to the Police Command headquarters by way of motorcade and that placards would not be on display.
Members complied gladly .
Soon, the body of lawyers was soon on its way to the Police Headquarters .
Some thirty minutes later, , the Deputy Commissioner, Administration, standing in for the Commissioner and leading several other senior officers received us ( no less than 80 lawyers ) under a tree . The chair man read the letter out to the police authorities and it was received.
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| Protesting members of Maiduguri branch of NBA at Borno State HQ |
.At the direction of the Chairman , all the lawyers except about 13 including 'Lagos Lawyer' took their leave. Those of us left behind now went to discuss with the police leadership , numbering about 16.
The meeting presided over by a very calm and amiable Deputy Commissioner, Operations , Abdu Umar lasted some 70 minutes. Both parties directly in dispute , Sadiq Kachalla Esq and Superintendent of Police Hussain Lumbo Bulama were present and told their stories.
Summarily, the lawyer who is also a university lecturer said he came to the police station in response to his client's call and was even resolving the issue betwen his client and the complainant when DPO Bulama questioned his participation and personality , threatening him with a lock up and proceeded to do exactly so . The DPO 's story in brief was that he ordered the lock up of the lawyer because he was railing at him and abusing him ( in his own office) .
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| X-Section of NBA Maiduguri members after the protest |
Every body at the meeting realised that the DPO was at fault . DCP Abdu Umar blamed him squarely saying his conduct did not display level headedness and professionalism and went on to offer apologies on behalf of the Police Command to the Bar . An intervention from me that the DPO apologised there and then to Kachalla Esq to end the rift permanently was rebuffed by D P O Bulama to the disappointment of all. The Bar is determined thereupon to take up the matter against 'the D P O exclusively ."
In the meantime, Mr. Kachallah has been released
.Mr. Ogunlana , who took turns to take photographs with members of the Branch has restated his RadicalAgenda for the Nigerian Bar Association and has assured that the Nigerian Bar Association, under his watch will lead the Bar to resist all forms of Oppression, be they anti-civil liberties, economic, political or in form of constitutional breaches.
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