An Independent Human Right Lawyer, Barrister Adam Bashir working with Talbash Chambers & Co in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital has during the weekend sent a letter to authorities of the Nigerian Air force (NAF) 79 Composite Group to immediately hand over one Mr. Nura who is in its custody to the Bulumkutu Police Station or face legal action.
The said three pages letter was duly signed and copied to the Chief of Air Staff, Chairman Human Right Commission in Abuja, the Police Commissioner in charge of Borno command and Journalists in Maiduguri.
The petition claimed that after one Mallam Umar Talba completed his work as described, he was followed on Monday 31st August 2015 by the said Nura (a civilian domestic staff attached to NAF in Maiduguri) and seriously assaulted him to the extent of breaking his limb and attempted to stab him with a knife.
The letter stated that, “one, Hon. Abba Mohammed Bashir who is a Senior Special Adviser to Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno state and referred as the complainant, on sighting this devilish and inhuman act rushed to the rescue of the victim and thereafter made a complaint against the said Nura to the nearest Bulumkutu Police Station.
“The Bulumkutu Police Station immediately acted upon the complaint and sent its personnel to the NAF Base to arrest the suspect for investigation and further prosecution in accordance with the Provision of Section 4 of the Police Act Cap P19LFN 2004 which states that; the police shall be employed for the prevention and detection of crime, the apprehension of offenders, the preservation of law and order, the protection of life and property and due enforcement of all laws and regulations with which they are directly charged and shall perform such military duties within or without Nigeria as may be requested by them, or under the authority of this or any other Act.
” The police on reaching the NAF Base to carry out their duties were unlawfully obstructed by some personnel of the Nigerian Air Force to arrest the assailant and refused to hand over the suspect to them and took the suspect to their custody in order to protect him from facing the consequences of his illegal act as if the suspect is above the law.
” The personnel of the NAF went further to take the matter from the hands of the police and demanded for statement of the return in order to compensate him which was denied by both the victim, the complainant and the police”.
As human right lawyers, Barrister Bashir Talba & Co said they write to inform the NAF Commander of the 79 Composite Group that the act of his personnel was mischievous, illegal, unconstitutional and an act of impunity.
“The act of obstructing the police from carrying out their duties is in itself a serious criminal Act and publishable as it is against the Police Act 2004 and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2004.
“It is worthy to note at this point that the NAF is a respectable Force which must be seen to fight criminality and not to support same. It is against this backdrop that we urge you with a very serious voice that you intervene in the matter and immediately direct the handover of the suspect to the police to avoid any serious and damaging legal consequences. Taking into notice that you have 48 hours to hand over the suspect to Bulumkutu police station failing which we will not hesitate to institute legal action against the NAF,”the letter stated.
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