A Kwara State branch of the Nigerian Bar Association has rejected an apology reportedly tendered by two officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps accused of assaulting a lawyer, insisting that the officers must first comply with a subsisting court order directing their appearance before any reconciliation can be considered.
The officers, identified as Ajayi Gbolahan and Busari Babatunde, were said to have written to the victim, Nurudeen Abdullateef Aladodo, expressing regret over the incident and promising not to repeat such conduct. However, the NBA maintained that the apology does not override a judicial directive already compelling the officers to appear in court.
Chairman of the Kwara NBA, Suleiman Kosemani, said the association remains open to hearing the officers’ side but would not compromise the integrity of the judicial process. He stressed that the court order requiring their appearance must be obeyed first, describing it as sacrosanct.
Kosemani added that any dialogue or reconciliation would only be considered after compliance with the order, noting that the apology letter could only help ease tensions around the case. He also said a stakeholders’ meeting would be convened afterward to determine the way forward, adding that the NBA’s civil action seeking monetary compensation for the affected lawyer remains in place. He emphasized that lawyers, as custodians of the rule of law, cannot be seen disregarding court orders or promoting shortcuts around due process.
The controversy has continued to draw reactions within the legal community, including from senior lawyer Yusuf Olaolu Ali, SAN, who condemned the alleged assault and what he described as a growing culture of impunity among some uniformed personnel. He said the incident reflects lingering authoritarian attitudes from Nigeria’s military era, arguing that some officers still behave as though they are superior to civilians.
Ali stated that abuse of power by security personnel undermines public trust in institutions and erodes respect for official uniforms, adding that such misconduct must stop. He maintained that most uniformed agencies outside the military remain civilian institutions bound by law and accountability mechanisms, warning that continued impunity would damage institutional credibility.
He also noted that while the matter could still be resolved amicably if all parties agree, due process must be respected. “Cases like this can be settled, but the rule of law must be respected by everyone involved,” he said.
Efforts to obtain a reaction from the NSCDC spokesperson in Kwara State, Ayoola Micheal, were unsuccessful as calls placed to him on Friday night were not answered.
The dispute stems from allegations that the two NSCDC officers assaulted Aladodo, leading to legal action and repeated court directives ordering their appearance. Chief Magistrate Adebayo Qudus Dupe had earlier directed the Kwara State NSCDC Commandant to produce the officers before the court. Following what the court described as repeated non-compliance, a bench warrant was issued directing the Commissioner of Police to arrest and produce the Commandant at the next adjourned sitting scheduled for June 10, 2026.
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