The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) has released a detained member of the Nigerian Bar Association, (NBA) Ibadan branch, Barr. Phillip Ojo.
Ojo was released after a peaceful protest led by the branch chairman, Ibrahim Lawal on Thursday.
Ojo was detained alongside the bailiff of the Oyo State High Court while trying to serve a court process on the Commission.
However, the Court bailiff was released after writing a statement as directed by the official of the Commission but the affected lawyer was said to have refused to write the statement.
An EFCC source stated that the affected lawyer came for the release of a seized vehicle but couldn’t provide the necessary documents.
However, the leadership of the association described his detention as flagrant abuse of rule of law and human rights.
This development led to a peaceful protest that was staged in the early hours of Thursday which terminated at the EFCC zonal office at Iyaganku in Ibadan South West local government area.
The protesters had earlier.demanded amongst other things an unconditional release of their colleagues and his personal belongings.
They described the action of the EFCC as illegal and flagrant abuse of human rights.
Armed with placards with inscriptions such as “Orji Chukwuma can not continue to act with immunity” “Harassment and intimidation of lawyer must stop” the protesters vowed not to leave the EFCC premises until their demands are met.
It was alleged that Ojo was arrested and detained alongside the Court bailiff while trying to serve the agency with a court process.
The bailiff, as reliably gathered had been released while Ojo is still in the custody of the EFCC.
The EFCC action triggered a peaceful protest by the members of the NBA in order to address an alleged injustice.
The EFCC official in order to douse the build up tension sought for a meeting between the representatives of the agency and the lawyers.
The chairman nominated five of its members for a closed door meeting with the Agency.
The meeting is ongoing as at the time of filing the reports.
Nigerian Tribune gathered that.the detainee was arrested on August 21st, 2024, while carrying out his lawful duty as a legal practitioner, accompanying a court bailiff to serve a court process on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
According to the NBA Ibadan Branch, the EFCC Ibadan Command’s actions towards lawyers have been a persistent issue. The immediate past executive of the bar, under the chairmanship of Mrs. Folasade Aladeniyi, had previously met with the commission to address this matter. However, the meeting appears to have yielded no results, as the acts of disrespect towards lawyers continue unabated.
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