Cosmas Chukwu, Enugu
A human rights group, Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN), has petitioned the Chief Judge and Chairman of the Enugu State Judicial Service Commission over an alleged attack and infliction of bodily harm on a resident of the state by court bailiffs.
President of the group, Olu Omotayo (Esq) who wrote the petition on behalf of the victim, Hon. Tope Oladunni, of Toni Frank Estate, Pocket Layout, Emene, Enugu, called on the Chief Judge to as a matter of urgency intervene in the matter.
The document obtained by our reporter read does: “We write to you in respect of this matter on behalf of Hon. Tope Oladunni, of Toni Frank Estate, Pocket Layout, Emene, Enugu.
“Hon. Oladunni informed us that sometimes in June 2026, he was served a Claim from the Magistrates’ Court Enugu. In the Claim with Suit No. CME/909/26, the Landlady Mrs. Beatrice Ekwuttosi Ozodinobi, sought to recover possession.
“He got a lawyer Samuel Chukwuma Igwe and paid him his fees to defend the suit as he was not owing rent Hon. Oladunni said he decided to vacate the premises and parked to another house in a nearby street in August 2026, at the expiration of his annual rent.
“Unknown to Hon. Oladunni the lawyer he engaged never put up appearance in court. Hon. Oladunni further stated that while at home on the 16th October 2026, around 7am, while he was in the bathroom, he just heard loud bang on his door.
“And by the time he rushed out from the bathroom, the people had already broke into his apartment and one of them identified himself as Mr. Pascal, a bailiff of Enugu State Magistrates Court.
“Hon. Oladunni and his wife were in total shock and amazed with the act of violence exhibited by Pascal and some group of men who were with him, who were behaving like thugs”
According to CRRAN, “Oladunni said before he could say anything the group of men had carried his properties which include: a) A television set and its’ Remote control, b), laptop bag which contains a Laptop, International Passport and Voters’ card belonging to him and iPhone 16 Pro max with MTN sim inside it”
“Also the windscreen of Oladunnis’ car, a Murrano jeep was slightly damaged”, adding that the noise in the apartment of Oladunni made his neighbours to come out and one of his neighbours named Godwin Atuchukwu, who was doing video recording of the scene was attacked by the court bailiffs and the group of men who came with them.
“Atuchukwu was beaten to stupor and he is currently hospitalized. The matter was reported to the Police at Emene Police Station, who gave Police Medical Report form to Atuchukwu before sending him to the Hospital”
”The video recording of when the Bailiffs and their men smashed Atuchukwu phone and brutalized him is recorded on the compact Disc attached to this letter.
“Atuchukwu was brutalized because the bailiffs said he did not have the right to do video recording of their activities.
“We believe that citizens of this country have unfettered right to record the activities of public officials who are performing legal duties.
”It is therefore unfortunate that officials of court could brutalized an innocent citizens only because he was recording their activities.
“Another unfortunate incident occurred in this case when Hon. Oladunni asked his lawyer to go and pay the judgment money in question, but the lawyer said the court said the bailiffs only deposited Television and its’ Remote Control in the court while other items like the: laptop bag which contains a Laptop, International Passport and Voters’ card belonging to Hon. Oladunni and iPhone 16 Pro max with MTN sim inside it could not be found.”
The organization therefore, condemned in an unequivocal terms the brazen act of thuggery and grievous attack on the Fundamental rights of these innocent victims and demands a thorough investigation of this matter with a view to ensure justice.
It stated that tha the “action of Mr. Pascal and his cohorts is an act of perversion of the course of justice and an attack on the Rule of Law in Nigeria.
“Citizens of this great country should be protected by the Court, Government and its’ agencies from this type of brazen attack on the Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights of citizens.
“We further demand that the Judiciary should cooperate with the Police to ensure the proper investigation in respect of the grievous assault occasioning harm perpetrated against Godwin Atuchukwu.”
The petition concluded, “We also demand that all the said missing properties of Hon. Oladunni should be accounted for by these officials.”
For a better society
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