A legal practitioner, Mr. Oluwaseyi Idowu, was allegedly assaulted by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the agency’s Ibadan Zonal Command while discharging his professional duties.
The incident, which occurred on November 25, 2025, has been condemned by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ibadan Branch, as a shocking act of misconduct and a blatant abuse of power by public officials.
In a statement signed by the Branch Chairman, Ibrahim Lawal, Esq, the NBA recounted that Mr. Idowu had visited the EFCC office alongside his client, a financial institution represented by a Compliance Officer, following an invitation referenced CR:3000/EFCC/IB/CMIFE/TA/425/VOL.3/005 issued by the Commission.
According to the Association, trouble began when the Investigating Officer, identified simply as Mr. Richard, allegedly became hostile after Mr. Idowu insisted that the institution’s representative must be granted bail in line with procedure.
The bail conditions reportedly triggered a dispute, during which Mr. Idowu cautioned the officer against making derogatory remarks about his client.
He was thereafter directed to meet a Sectional Head, who, according to the NBA, verbally abused the lawyer, calling him an impostor and a fake lawyer.
The statement said, "The friendly disposition of the officer assigned to the case changed to that of unwarranted hostility against our member and the representative of his client upon the insistence that our client's representative must be admitted to bail.
"The stringent bail condition elicited a reaction from them. Our member admonished the Investigating Officer, one Mr Richard, to desist from making derogatory remarks against the man who was merely representing an institution in his capacity as an employee.
"The officer asked a team member to take our colleague to see Sectional Head in respect of the bail conditions attached to bail. All entreaties made to this official also failed as he insisted that our colleague's client must be detained.
"The insistence of our member on an appropriate conduct expected of a public official further infuriated the Sectional Head who accused our member of being an impostor, a fake lawyer, among several other indecorous expressions considered beneath the dignity of a public office.
"The retort from our member that he was not a stupid man caused an officer, acting presumably on the instruction of the Sectional Head, demanded that our member should keep quiet.”
“The subsequent action was a barrage of slaps and kicks from the office of the Sectional Head to the reception.”
According to the NBA, three EFCC officers “took turns to slap, kick and pushed him to the ground”.
“He was held by the trousers like a common thief until he was pushed off the premises,” it added.
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