Operatives of the Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Thursday, fired tear gas to disperse protesting lawyers who had stormed the anti-graft agency’s office in the Oyo State capital city, to protest against alleged brutality and hostility by the Commission personnel.
According to a viral video posted on X (formerly Twitter) by a netizen, Oluyemi Fasipe via the handle @YemieFash, the protesting lawyers are members of the Ibadan branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
Fasipe wrote: “Nigerian Bar Association, Ibadan Branch is currently protesting against EFCC brutality in Ibadan.
“Apparently, a lawyer is involved this time; the rogues who came to brutalise innocent people in Akure on the 8th of June also came from this Ibadan Command of the EFCC. EFCC is fast becoming another SARS.”
The social media user had earlier in another post accused the EFCC of brutalising a lawyer, saying, “Some of you said rogue EFCC officers only harass and assault Yahoo boys, they have brutalised a lawyer in Ibadan. Who knows, you might just be next.”
According to the video, uniformed EFCC operatives fired tear gas canisters at the lawyers who were at the zonal office of the anti-graft agency to register their grievances over alleged brutality by its officials.
The infuriated lawyers who carried placards with different inscriptions remained adamant despite the efforts of the armed EFCC operatives to disperse them.
Narrating their ordeal, an unnamed leader of the protesting lawyers said the lawyers were at the EFCC office to register their grievances over alleged hostility of its officers.
Talking to the guns-weilding operatives, the leader of the team said, “The first and the last time I’ve ever been to your facility was the time I came for a client, and right from the gate, the hostility was so much that I vowed that I would never enter into this place again.
“I will never, and and I’m never going to enter, even if I’m invited today, I will never enter your facility.”
Amidst the lawyer’s speech, members of the NBA were seen shouting “More tear gas,” in protest against the action of the EFCC operatives who fired teargas canisters at them.
Another member of the association drew the attention of a top official of the anti-corruption body who came out to address the angry lawyers, saying, “Meanwhile, before you speak, Sir. Your people have pointed gun at everyone of us and tear gas us. Let that be registered.”
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