The Nigerian Bar Association, Kano Branch, has accused the Kano State Criminal Investigation Department of intimidating one of its members, Mr Mustapha Abubakar Adam, following his arrest and detention, describing the incident as an attack on the legal profession.
The association also vowed to resist what it termed “institutional bullying” by the police and directed its members to attend court in solidarity with the lawyer.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the Chairman of the NBA Kano Branch, Sani Ammani, the association alleged that Adam was arrested and detained on Tuesday, June 30, on the orders of the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State CID.
According to the NBA, the lawyer’s ordeal began after he protested being denied access to represent his client at the CID office despite waiting for about 40 minutes while other persons, including the opposing party, were granted entry.
The association said Adam merely described the treatment as “unbecoming,” a remark it insisted did not warrant his arrest or detention.
It added that the lawyer was released shortly before midnight following the intervention of the NBA leadership.
The statement disclosed that leaders of the NBA Kano and Ungogo branches met with the Kano State Commissioner of Police and the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the CID on July 1 in an attempt to resolve the dispute.
According to the NBA, the DC CID admitted during the meeting that Adam’s detention was based on the advice of the Officer Commanding Legal, who interpreted the lawyer’s use of the word “unbecoming” as an insult directed at a police officer.
The association, however, alleged that although the meeting ended on a conciliatory note, the police later changed their position by insisting that Adam must submit a written apology before the matter could be resolved.
“The NBA Kano Branch will not capitulate to institutional bullying,” Ammani said.
He revealed that the association had secured a court order restraining the police from rearresting Adam over the incident.
Ammani further alleged that the police had filed a First Information Report against the lawyer and summoned him to appear before Magistrate Court No. 54, Gyadi Gyadi, Kano, on Friday.
Describing the prosecution as an attempt to intimidate legal practitioners, the NBA chairman said, “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.”
He called on lawyers in the state to attend the court proceedings in large numbers to demonstrate solidarity with their colleague and defend the independence of the legal profession.
The Kano State Police Command had yet to issue an official response to the NBA’s latest allegations as of the time of filing this report.
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