Rights group Warns Police Against Perverting Justice On ASCSN Crisis

1 year ago
5 mins read

A human rights organization, the Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ), has advised the officers of the Nigeria Police Force, particularly, the Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB), Area-10, Garki, Abuja, to stop what it called perversion of justice over the leadership crisis that engulfed the Association of Senior Civil Servant of Nigeria (ASCSN) in recent time.

Rights group Warns Police Against Perverting Justice On ASCSN Crisis
Rights group Warns Police Against Perverting Justice On ASCSN Crisis

A human rights organization, the Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ), has advised the officers of the Nigeria Police Force, particularly, the Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB), Area-10, Garki, Abuja, to stop what it called perversion of justice over the leadership crisis that engulfed the Association of Senior Civil Servant of Nigeria (ASCSN) in recent time. 

The group made the warning on Tuesday, following a purported invitation it described as illegal, sent to the two members of the Senior Staff Union led by Comrade Innocent Bola-Audu, to appear before it on Wednesday 9th November, 2022.

The Invitation Letters with Reference N0: CR: 3000/FIB/FHQ/ABJ/TJ/ Vol, dated 2nd November, 2022, was signed by one DCP Hycenth A. Edozie, forwarded to Comrade Mutiu Oluwa Adebayo and Comrade Uranta Clinton.

The Letters read thus: “This office is investigating a case of criminal conspiracy, forgery, mischief and impersonation in which your name featured.

“In view of the above, you are requested to report for an interview with the undersigned through CSP Agnus Udodirim Ibegulam, Team “J” at Room 314,2nd Floor ,FCID Complex, Area 10, Garki, Abuja, on Wednesday 9th November,2022, by 10.00 am. Your prompt response in this regards is solicited, please”.

CHRSJ, in reaction to the invitation, through its Executive Chairman, Comrade Adeniyi Alimi Sulaiman, maintained that the invitation letter credited to the officer of the Police Bureau, was against the substantial Judgement of the National Industrial Court and Federal High Court with the Court of Appeal

Comrade Sulaiman, who strongly Condemned the Police invitation for the two members of the Union, warned the Police against sabotaging the judgement of the Court of competent jurisdiction.

While describing the Police action as unlawful, unconstitutional, unprofessional, undemocratic and, uncalle for he said it amounts to conspiracy and contempt of the Court. 

Sulaiman said, “It is our surprise that a Senior Police Officer (Deputy Commissioner of Police) attached to Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB) could issue and sign an invitation letter on the matter that has been settled by the Courts of competent jurisdiction because some usurpers raised a frivolous, unfounded and trump-up allegations against the aforementioned persons as contained in the said letter.

“To us, this shows the level of lawlessness on the part of such Senior Officer, instead to request from their complainants to avail them all the Certified True Copies of the judgements relating to the subject matter from National Industrial Court and Federal High Courts. 

“This also shows that DCP Hycenth A. Edozie could work very well in policing the country and the leadership of the Force should just transfer him to states like Borno, Yobe, Niger, Benue, Adamawa and others, where they are facing serious security challenges from Bandits, Boko Haram and Fulani Herdsmen presently.”

CHRSJ Chief maintained that the Police as enforcer of the law, should have ensured that the judgements of the Courts would be obeyed instead of taking side with the usurpers led by Mr. Tommy Etim Okon and former Secretary of the Union, Mr. Alade-Lawal.

Sulaiman who doubles as Convener, Save Lagos Group (SLG), urged Police leadership in the country, to warn their ranks and files against running the foul of the law by not engaging in contemnor on the subject matter, insisting that industrial and regular Courts had settled all the matters relating to the issue at hand in favour of Comrade Innocent Bola-Audu-led Union.

“It would be recalled that last week Monday, the Police from Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigative Department (FCIID), Area 10, Abuja, led by One Isuwa Demas, sealed-off of the National Secretariat of the Union located at the Bureaucrat House. 2, Dapo, Bode-Thomas street, off Montgomery, Yaba, Lagos state, Nigeria, without any justification for such action.

“It was also learnt that Mr. Tommy Etim Okon in connivance with the former Secretary of the Union, Mr. Bashir Alade-Lawal engaged the service of officers from Force Intelligence Bureau(my (FIB) to break and forcefully take over the National Secretariat of the union illegally and this Police action was condemned by all and sundry.

“The Inspector General of Police (IGP) had been told to call the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of FIB and DCP Hycent A. Edozie with their lawless ranks and files led by Isuwa Denmas to order over illegal sealing-off of the Union National Secretariat in Lagos and to stop their further contemptious action.”

Sulaiman, who faulted the claims of Court reinstated Tim Okon as leader of the Union, describing Okon’s claim as fraudulent, criminal in nature, misleading and mischievous, saying that only legally recognized President of the Union is Comrade Innocent Bola-Audu and anybody who claimed to be President of the Union aside Bola-Audu led association should be seen as impersonator that is liable to imprisonment.

Recalling that there were many judgements and orders from the Courts which obtained in favour of Bola-Audu led Executive; an Abuja High Court in Suit N0: FCT/HC/BW/201/2021, gave an order on 15th of March, 2021, directing the parties in the suit to maintain “Status Quo” Ante Bellum by affirming the Comrade Bola-Audu as President of the Union; Hon. Justice O. A. Musa of Abuja High Court delivered a judgement in Suit N0: CV/87/2021, on 1st day of February, 2022, recognizing the Comrade Innocent Bola-Audu+2348141849927 as the lawful National President of ASCSN, barring Mr. Alade-Lawal and Tommy Okon from parading themselves as leader of the Union; the Honourable Justice O. O. Oyewumi of National Industrial Court, Abuja Division, gave an order in Suit N0: NICN/ ABJ/214/2022, on Wednesday 25th day of October, 2022, directing all the parties to maintain “Status Quo”; the Hon. Justice A.O. Osiagor of the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division, gave an order on September 13th, 2022, in a Suit N0: FHC/LS/1674/2022, stopping Bashir Alade-Lawal and Tommy Etim Okon, from having access to the Bank account of the Union and urged the affected Banks to return the operation of the said account to Comrade Bola-Audu and Comrade(Mrs) Rahab A. Maigari, the Union President and Treasurer respectively and as well unsealed-off the National Secretariat of the Union to be at the control and possession of Bola-Audu-led Executive and National Industrial Court judgement delivered by Hon. Justice R.A. Gwuandu, in a Suit N0: MICN/LA/242/2022, declaring Comrade Innocent Bola-Audu as authentic President of the Union.

ASCSN, an affiliate of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has been engulfed in a crisis over an allegations of N10 billion fraud against the officials of the Union where the Bola-Audu leadership wants the security and financial crimes agencies to investigate the alleged N10 billion fraud but those alleged to be involved in the fraud were planning to forcefully take over the leadership of the Union as part of the cover-up to stop the ongoing investigation into the alleged fraud at Alagbon Force Headquarter’s.

The members of the Union, had protested over the alleged N10 billion fraud levelled against Mr. Bashir Alade Lawal, the former Secretary General of ASCSN, alongside the Deputy Secretary of the Union, Josua Apebo, the Union’s Chief Accountant, Fatai Akorede, Mrs. Funmilayo Victoria Salami, the Chief Typist of the Union and Tommy Etim Okon, which is still under Investigation at (FIIB)-Annex, General Investigation Department (GID), Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos, led by DCP Shick Danko and Officer Kehinde as an Investigative Police Officer (IPO) to the matter.

Earlier, a staff of the Union, Michael Iriah Ehimen had petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) through a letter dated 28th Day Of May, 2021, reporting the alleged N10 billion fraud against Bashir Alade-Lawal which is under Investigation at the EFCC office.

Others fingered in the alleged fraud were: Comrade Boboi Kegama, former President of ASCSN and Comrade Asani Dinatu Asibi, the immediate past Treasurer of the Union.


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