The Nigerian Bar Association, has expressed deep concerns about the plight of one its leaders, Mr. Rickey Tarfa (SAN) who was arrested along with his clients from the premises of the High Court of Lagos State by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
A statement issued today by the Lagos branch of the Association and signed by its chairman, Martin Ogunleye said “We note that Mr. Tarfa, a member of our branch and a senior member of the Bar, was denied access to food, his lawyers and family members for almost two days. He was also denied change of clothes from the court robes he wore during his arrest for the same period.
“It is equally pertinent to note that while the president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Augustine Alegeh (SAN) intervened in the matter, he was made to wait for hours and denied access to Mr. Tarfa.
“While we support the current efforts being made by the Federal Government to combat corruption, we urge that the fight be conducted within the ambit of law, as to do otherwise will occasion injustice and possibly anarchy.
“While we do not wish to join issues on the merit of the allegations, we must emphasize that it is an aberration to arrest suspects within the premises of a court of law, worse still arresting a lawyer who was merely plying his trade in court. Perhaps the commission needs to be reminded that from Victorian times, the courts and church have remained hallowed grounds upon which arrests must not be made. This festering malaise by the EFCC must stop immediately.
“It is also noteworthy that the Nigerian Constitution safeguards all persons from inhuman and degrading treatment, notwithstanding the alleged offence. We therefore condemn in very strong terms the treatment meted to Mr. Tarfa while in detention as well as attempts by the commission and its operatives to derail the anti-corruption war through needless debasement of our hallowed temples of justice. These actions are entirely unjustified and an affront on our judicial system.
“We demand that the leadership of the commission immediately issue an unreserved apology to the Nigerian Bar Association President, the Bar and the entire judiciary for this assault on the justice sector. For the avoidance of doubt, let it be known that henceforth we will not tolerate this brazen abuse of the rights of Nigerian citizens.”
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