THE NBA - SECURITY AGENCIES RELATIONS COMMITTEE (NBA-SARC): INTERVENTION UPDATE (MAY, 2022).

 

The NBA Security Agencies Relations Committee (NBA-SARC) Chaired by Joe-Kyari Gadzama, SAN has successfully intervened in the case of one Mr. Peter C. Amasiani Esq., a legal practitioner from the NBA Enugu Branch, who on the 22nd of April 2022, was unlawfully arrested and detained by the Police Area Commander Enugu and whose car was further confiscated.

Mr. Amasiani narrated that his ordeal began on the 2nd day of August 2021 when a client came to his chambers and briefed him on a matter relating to the recovery of possession of a property, being a room and parlour self-contained, occupied by one tenant, Mrs.Ukachi Obaji.

On the 15th day of March 2022, the Court delivered its judgment, ordering the tenant to deliver possession of the said apartment on or before the 31st day of March 2022. On the 12th day of April 2022, His Worship Magistrate V.N. UZOMA issued and signed the warrant for possession of the premises which was executed by two bailiffs of the court alongside a police officer. The possession of the premises was recovered on the 13th day of April 2022 and the keys were handed over to Mr. Amasiani’s client.

Despite this, the said tenant resumed possession of the said apartment and refused to deliver up vacant possession. The court bailiff and police who first executed the warrant went back on the 22nd day of April 2022 and re-executed the warrant on the premises and again gave possession of the said apartment to Mr. Amasiani’s client.

However, the tenant scaled the fence and with a matchet attempted once more to regain possession of the premises. Mr. Amasiani had merely advised his client who, with help, arrested the said tenant and immediately used her vehicle to convey the tenant to the Nkporogwu police post, which was the closest to her (the client’s) house. Mr. Amasiani’s client was arrested for chaining the tenant who had broken into her house at about 10:04 p.m with a matchet and the case was thereafter transferred to the Area Command Police Division Abakpa Nike Enugu where surprisingly the police detained Mr. Amasiani’s car, his client and her aged husband, all supposedly on the order of the area commander.

Mr. Amasiani alleged that when he demanded to know the reason why his car was confiscated, the officer responded that the Area Commander had issued another order that he be detained alongside his client for chaining a suspect.

Upon Mr. Amasiani’s complaint to the NBA-SARC, the Committee swiftly reached out to and informed the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State, CP Abubakar who has assured the committee of justice to the learned counsel, Mr. Amasiani. In the interim and on the directive of the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Amasiani’s vehicle has been released while the complaint is being investigated. Mr. Amasiani has sent his special thanks to, among others, Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama SAN, for his swift response. The NBA-SARC is further encouraging the legal community to always report instances of harassment and brutality by officers of security agencies across the country.