The social media is awash with the news that two lawyers; David Amaefuna, Esq and Pius Ufo Inyang, Esq of the law firm of Rickey Tarfa & Co who were charged before Magistrate Court Guzape, FCT by men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad ( SARS) put in place by the Inspector General of Police, were blatantly refused bail.
The application for bail was heard by the Magistrate who failed to exercise discretion and grant bail, preferring instead to remand them in Kuje Prison even though the lawyers were picked up in their line of duty as permitted by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
It is worrisome that in the circumstance the Magistrate, who is foremost a colleague, betrayed his sacred duty to the legal profession by refusing to give any respect to colleagues who, in addition, enjoy the presumption of innocence guaranteed under the law.
The conduct of the Magistrate could only have satisfied the perverted sense of ‘justice’ of those overzealous security agents bent on turning Nigeria into a totalitarian state and that is unfortunate and highly condemnable. Read more<<<<<
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