Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s (BAT) lawyers have called on the Inspector-General of Police (IG), Kayode Egbetokun, to investigate the alleged assault on one of their members, Mr Ernest Okpaga, by police officers attached to the National Cybercrime Center (NCCC).
BAT Lawyers is a group of Nigerian legal practitioners who support and believe in the mandate, vision, and mission of President Tinubu, encapsulated in the Renewed Hope agenda for Nigerians.
The group alleges that Okpaga, an Abuja-based lawyer, was assaulted by officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) attached to the NCCC on December 19.
The convener of the group, Mrs Abibat Bankole-Apena, condemned the alleged assault during a news conference in Ikeja.
She stated that the group had submitted a petition to the Inspector-General of Police and the Police Service Commission (PSC), requesting a thorough investigation into the incident.
Bankole-Apena claimed that Okpaga was beaten and dragged on the floor by the officers after he resisted their attempts to lock him in a room with his client, Ms Thomas Abiodun, who had collapsed.
She alleged that the officers, dressed in plain clothes, abused their position and acted without legal justification.
According to her, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) named Raliant was the investigating officer in this case.
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She called on the IG to investigate the matter and discipline those involved.
Bankole-Apena remarked, “It is unfortunate that the actions of a few bad apples in the Nigeria Police Force tarnish the good work being done by President Bola Tinubu and his administration, including the Inspector General of Police, and this reflects poorly on the government.”
She expressed confidence that the IG would take the matter seriously and act swiftly in the interest of the country.
She also urged police authorities to implement measures to prevent such incidents in the future, emphasizing the group’s role as change agents providing crucial feedback to the government and participating in efforts to establish good governance in Nigeria.
“We organized this press conference to hold these officers accountable and to demonstrate that there are no sacred cows under this government. We believe that the IG will take this matter seriously and act promptly in the nation’s best interest.”
BAT Lawyers demanded that appropriate disciplinary actions be taken against those involved, to serve as a warning to any potential abusers of power within the police force.
“Our member could have been killed if not for the intervention of other officers who witnessed the incident and stepped in as he was being subjected to inhumane treatment. It was only after this intervention that the officers stopped beating him and took both him and his client to the police clinic for treatment.”
Bankole-Apena reiterated, “We believe that the IG will take this matter seriously and act expeditiously in the overall interest of our country.”
