Posted by NDIDI OKAFOR, Deputy Political Editor on
PROMINENT Nigerians including Chiefs Segun Osoba, Gani Fawehinmi (SAN), Mike Ozekhome and Mr. Bamidele Aturu yesterday condemned the unprovoked attack on former Inspector-General of Police..
PROMINENT Nigerians including Chiefs Segun Osoba, Gani Fawehinmi (SAN), Mike Ozekhome and Mr. Bamidele Aturu yesterday condemned the unprovoked attack on former Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Tafa Balogun by policemen and security operatives attached to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) urging that stern disciplinary action be taken against them.
But the EFCC in a statement yesterday said that it "deeply regretted" the incident and apologised to the former super cop.
Balogun had slumped at the Federal High Court, Abuja premises Wednesday where he is standing trial on a 92-count charge of allegedly stealing over N18 billion belonging to the Nigeria Police, after security agents brutalised him.
He was rushed to a private hospital in Wuse, Abuja where he is receiving medical attention.
Reacting to the attack, however, in separate interviews with Daily Champion, the quartet demanded that the perpetrators be punished.
Former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Osoba described the attack as "jungle behaviour and official thuggery," adding that such incident does not happen in decent societies.
His stand coincided with that of Balogun's counsel, Dr. Tunji Abayomi, who confirmed to Daily Champion that he had petitioned President Olusegun Obasanjo on the matter.
Aligning himself with Chief Osoba on the issue, legal luminary Chief Fawehinmi described the assault on Balogun as a "show of shame," by the security operatives.
Said he: "I was appalled when I saw it on television and read it in newspapers. I didn't expect such behaviour from the EFCC operatives. Mallam Nuhu Ribadu (EFCC chairman) should call his boys to order."
On his part, Mr. Aturu, who is a Lagos-based lawyer, said the attack was a major lesson to those in public office that power is transient
"Those who did it must be tried and punished because they are not fit to be in the force," Mr. Aturu stated.
Reacting, another lawyer, Chief Ozekhome described as "shameful" the manhandling of Balogun by security men.
Speaking in an interview with Daily Champion, Ozekhome said "although Balogun is part of the system that created the Frankenstein monster called the Nigerian police, the treatment given to him by very junior officers is shameful.
"It portrays Nigeria as a country of savagery with little or no regard for fundamental human rights, human dignity and the rule of law," he said.
He argued that it was a clear violation of Balogun's rights and "anti-international legal instruments."
He said it was wrong for the EFCC which is prosecuting Balogun to allow him to be beaten up in clear violation of his rights.
However, in a statement signed by Mr. Osita Nwajah, head of EFCC media and publicity, the commission stated that "the scuffle that took place is deeply regretted."
This is the second time EFCC had apologised for the untoward attitude of their operatives against the former super cop.
Mr. Nwajah, who aligned EFCC with the apology and explanations by its lawyer, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs at the court premises when the incident happened, Wednesday, added that "EFCC is only interested in, the fair prosecution and has never contemplated the persecution of Mr. Balogun."
He expladined that the commission's chairman, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mallam Ribadu, who is out of the country has been informed of "the unfortunate incident."
Absolving EFCC of any plot to dehumanise Balogun, Nwajah stated that even when Mr. Balogun failed to meet the bail conditions of the Federal High Court in another suit brought against him by the commission, "EFCC did not raise any objection to his being granted bail, so as to concentrate on the main trial."