In a disturbing turn of events, Ernest Okpaga, Esq., a member of the legal team representing Abiodun Thomas, was subjected to severe physical assault and humiliation by officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) at the National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) in Abuja. This incident highlights a growing culture of lawlessness within the Nigerian police force, not only towards citizens but also to legal professionals who are merely doing their job.
The ordeal began when the police detained Abiodun Thomas without informing her or her legal team of the charges against her, in clear violation of her fundamental rights. Despite repeated requests for information, the police failed to disclose the reasons for her arrest or to allow her legal team access to her. She was also denied the opportunity to make her statement for several days, a blatant disregard for legal procedures and basic human rights.
On December 19, 2024, after a week of unlawful detention, the police summoned Thomas’ legal team to record her statement. Ernest Okpaga, who I have known for several years as a gentleman and dedicated professional, was tasked with accompanying his client to the NPF-NCCC for this purpose.
However, the situation quickly escalated when the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), where Thomas was initially detained, denied her lawyers access to their client. The department insisted that the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) must be present, but the IPO was at the NPF-NCCC, where Thomas was eventually brought after several hours of delay.
While at the NPF-NCCC, it became evident that Thomas’ health was deteriorating. She is both asthmatic and suffers from ulcers, yet the police refused to provide any medical assistance despite her repeated complaints. After making her statement, an alarming incident occurred: Thomas collapsed shortly thereafter.
Ernest, upon learning of her condition, immediately urged the police to take her to the hospital for urgent medical care. Yet, instead of prioritizing her well-being, the Assistant Director Admin at the NPF-NCCC issued an order to detain both the lawyer and his client in an interrogation room until Thomas regained consciousness.
When Ernest resisted the unlawful order, demanding that he be allowed to leave, he was mercilessly beaten and assaulted by police officers. This was a shocking display of police brutality against a lawyer who was simply fulfilling his professional duties.
Eventually, after continued resistance, the Assistant Director Admin instructed that both Thomas and Ernest be taken to the Police Hospital at Area 11, Garki, Abuja, where Thomas is currently receiving medical treatment.
This is yet another example of the Nigerian Police Force’s flagrant disregard for the law and their continued acts of violence, even against those tasked with upholding it. Lawyers, like all citizens, should be able to perform their duties without fear of harassment, assault, or wrongful detention. This incident must serve as a wake-up call to all legal professionals and human rights advocates about the need to hold the Nigerian police accountable for their actions.
As a society, we cannot afford to allow this unchecked lawlessness to persist. The Nigerian police must be reformed, and accountability must be demanded at all levels of the force.
Ernest Okpaga’s account is not just a personal tale of injustice but a reflection of the systemic abuse of power that plagues the Nigerian police force.
I stand in full solidarity with Ernest Okpaga and the rest of the legal team in their fight for justice. Let this incident be a call to action for every Nigerian who values the rule of law.
Inibehe Effiong, Esq.
@InibeheEffiong
