There was mild drama today as some lawyers and three operatives of the Directorate of Security Service (DSS) clashed over the manner vehicles were parked at the Magistrate Court premises, Awka.
Elekenews.blogspot.com reports that trouble started when operatives of the DSS who were on an emergency could not access a road which passed through the court premises.
The situation aroused the anger of the operatives, who allegedly assaulted one of the lawyers, Mr Jude Ndukwe with a machete and forced the courts to rise for the day’s sitting for security reason.
An eyewitness told our reporter that the security operatives who drove in a green Peugeot vehicle were provoked by the manner vehicles were parked by the lawyers and sent for the owners.
“The courts were on session when we started hearing people shouting outside; we rushed out and saw a lawyer who was seriously manhandled by the DSS operatives.
“The situation attracted sympathy of other lawyers present in court who rallied round to rescue their colleague,” a source said.
According to the source, the DSS operatives reinforced with two other officials with guns and threatening to shoot anyone who came close while they went ahead to deflate tyres of vehicles around.
Narrating his ordeal, Ndukwe said “I was called out by a female Police officer to come and remove my vehicle blocking the way and as I made to open my car, his two orderly started assaulting me.
“One used a machete while the other with a gun used his hands on me. What happened shouldn’t have warranted this type of situation,” Ndukwe said.
Although, the matter had been reported to the police, Ndukwe said that he was not satisfied with the way the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Hassan Karma handled the case.
“The matter should be formerly documented; the police should carry out their investigations and charge the matter to court to assuage me,” he said.
Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Uche Ezeh said some lawyers made formal complaint on the matter which was later resolved by the Commissioner of Police in company of his deputy in charge of administration.
“They had a hand shake in the CP’s office, where the CP reminded them that lawyers and security operatives were partners in progress and should resolve the matter amicably,” Ezeh said.
