Abuja Lawyer Alleges Threat To Life By Police Officer During Client Representation
In a distressing account of professional duty turning perilous, Mr. Felix Ashimole, an Abuja-based legal practitioner and co-publisher of award winning legal blog, KUBWA EXPRESS, has reported a grave threat to his life while representing his client, Mr. Henry Alokam, at the Byazhin Police Station. In a letter addressed to Mr. Chukwuka Ikwazom SAN, Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association Security Agencies Relations Committee (NBA-SARC), Mr. Ashimole detailed the harrowing encounter that transpired on Sunday, February 18, 2024, at around 4:32 pm.
According to Mr. Ashimole, an officer identified as Vincent Gabriel, purportedly stationed at the Byazhin Police Station, brandished an AK-47 rifle and forcibly escorted him off the premises, issuing a chilling ultimatum that defied the bounds of professional conduct – comply or face fatal consequences.
The incident unfolded when Mr. Alokam, Mr. Ashimole’s client, was summoned to the police station. Upon Mr. Alokam’s request for legal representation, Mr. Ashimole accompanied him. However, tensions escalated when Vincent Gabriel, the police officer in question, began dictating the contents of Mr. Alokam’s statement, coercing him into potentially self-incriminating declarations under duress. Mr. Ashimole, in defense of his client’s rights, vehemently objected to this coercive practice and raised concerns about the integrity of the statement being obtained.
Subsequently, Gabriel demanded Mr. Ashimole’s departure from the room where the statement was being taken. Unable to reason with the officer, Mr. Ashimole sought assistance from the station’s DPO, only to find him absent. It was at this juncture that Gabriel escalated the confrontation, wielding his firearm and forcibly ejecting Mr. Ashimole from the premises, leaving Mr. Alokam unrepresented and vulnerable.
In response to the alarming incident, Mr. Ashimole promptly contacted the Nigerian Bar Association Security Agencies Relations Committee (NBA-SARC) emergency hotline to report the egregious violation of professional conduct. Assurances of swift action were extended by the Secretary of SARC, Aliyu Abubakar, Esq., promising an investigation into the matter.
In addition to reporting the incident to NBA-SARC, Mr. Ashimole reached out to his branch’s Chairman, Paul Daudu, Esq., and the Vice-Chairman, informing them of the alarming encounter with law enforcement while fulfilling his professional duties.
Mr. Ashimole has pledged to file an official report on Monday, February 19, 2024, documenting the alarming sequence of events. His letter to Mr. Ikwazom concludes with a request for urgent attention to the matter and assurance of his unwavering commitment to upholding the integrity of legal proceedings, despite the looming threat to his personal safety.
