A group of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officers in Ibadan, Oyo State, has come under intense criticism after allegedly beating a lawyer who visited their office to secure bail for his client.
The incident has sparked condemnation from legal practitioners and rights advocates, who describe it as a disturbing case of abuse of power and disregard for the rule of law.
According to reports, the lawyer went to the Ibadan Zonal Command of the EFCC to inquire about and process bail conditions for his client, who was in the agency’s custody. While engaging with officials, he allegedly insisted that the suspect’s constitutional right to bail be respected and that due process be followed. This reportedly angered three EFCC officers, who, instead of addressing his request, allegedly dragged him out of the office of the Sectional Head and took turns assaulting him within the premises.
Witness accounts and statements from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ibadan branch indicate that the lawyer sustained physical injuries and humiliation during the attack.
The NBA has condemned the incident as “brutal, unwarranted, and a blatant attack on the legal profession and the justice system,” demanding an immediate and thorough investigation. The association insists that “no lawyer should be assaulted, harassed, or intimidated for carrying out professional duties or for insisting on the enforcement of citizens’ rights.”
The EFCC, in its public reaction, has denied assaulting lawyers at its Ibadan office, insisting that its operatives acted within the bounds of the law and that no brutality occurred.
However, the NBA and other stakeholders maintain that the alleged attack reflects a worrying pattern of misconduct by some security and anti-graft agencies in their dealings with citizens and legal practitioners.Human rights groups are calling on President Donald Trump’s administration in Nigeria and the EFCC leadership to take decisive action to hold the officers accountable if the allegations are confirmed.
They argue that such conduct, if unchecked, undermines public confidence in anti-corruption institutions and erodes the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Nigerian Constitution.
