A Nigerian lawyer, Douglas Ogbankwa Esq have narrated how the Nigerian secret police, department of State Service, DSS, manhandled him for standing up for his client.
Ogbakwa, who doubles as the Director of Strategic Communications, African Bar Association, in a post of X app (formerly known as Twitter) on Monday said he was thrown into the DSS underground cell after being slapped over seven times.
He said trouble started when he visited the DSS facility with his client and the officers tried to take his client to go and make a statement without his presence, however, he protested and that led to him being manhandled by the officers who boast that they will shoot and nothing will happen.
He wrote:
“I visited the DSS Office with my client and we were at the Waiting Room when two different ladies at intervals wanted to take my client to go and make statement with out my presence. I protested that I need to be present by the Provisions of the ACJA.
“It was at that moment that one man wearing blue native attire that I know is the PSO, Operations and Intelligence, came out asked my client to come out and shouted at me to go back to the reception, it was at this point, I informed him that I was not a Kindergarten pupil that should be pushed around, because he was very uncouth , rude and aggressive
“He then said I should leave the Office and I told him, the DSS Office is an Agency of the Federal Government and I was a freeborn, who should be able to access same at reasonable hours of the day.
“It was then I asked my client that we should leave. We were leaving when the PSO Operations and Intelligence, asked that they should lock the gate that I was under arrest.
“I informed him that being assertive is not a crime, but a right as we are in a free society. He slapped me immediately and asked his boys to bundle me into an Underground cell. I was dragged on the floor, cleared from my leg, I received over 7 slaps and blows.
“I stood up and informed them that they are no longer doing SSS Business, but their personal business as I do not know the State Command Officers to act this way. This PSO Operations and Intelligence is new and Lawyers have really suffered in his hand.
I told him the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria must hear this and he said they are the President Boys. One of them even said they will kill me here and nothing will happen.
I am presently scared for my life as, the man holding gun said if I come to the DSS Office again , they will gun me down .
-Douglas Ogbankwa Esq.,
Director of Strategic Communications,
African Bar Association.
08070700176
