I Am A Nigerian Citizen: I Refuse To Be Silenced By Gloria Mabeiam Ballason

Earlier this week, I instructed my lawyers to file a suit on my
behalf against the Nigeria Police Force and the Governor of Kaduna
State for the enforcement of my fundamental rights. Let me explain
why I did so.

Since 28 November, 2019, the police have laid siege on the
office of House of Justice, in Barnawa, Kaduna, reportedly in
search of me. House of Justice is a public interest advocacy and
legal service centre in Kaduna, Nigeria. I lead its advocacy work.
Over the past decade, I have established and practised Law from
Kaduna.

On that day, three hefty men, claiming to be from the State
Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Kaduna reportedly showed
up on Thursday, 28 November, 2019 and requested for me. My
colleagues in chambers informed them that I had gone out. After
waiting for several hours, they left. It was only hours to the
annual House of Justice Summit and Banquet slated for Friday, 29
November, 2019. I was out trying to put finishing touches to the
preparations. The theme for the 2019 House of Justice Summit was
Governance, Impunity & Accountability”

I should add that throughout the process of organising this
event, I was in contact with both the Police and other security
services. We had confirmed several high profile guests from within
and outside Nigeria. A retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police,
G.C. Nwobodo was the Chairman of the event. Betty Kaari Murungi,
Kenya’s leading international human rights expert, who has
extensive experience with the United Nations and the International
Criminal Court (ICC) and now works at the African Group for Justice
and Accountability was our keynote speaker. Other panellists
confirmed for the event included Senator Shehu Sani, Justice H.A.
Abiru of the Court of Appeal, Dr. Sam Amadi (former Chairman of the
Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC), Dr. Chidi Anselm
Odinkalu (former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission)
and a cream of some of Nigeria’s best human rights advocates and
public commentators such as Chief Richard Umaru, Samie Ihejirika,
Abiodun Baiyewu, Mark Amaza, Bella Anne Ndubuisi, Murtala Muhammad,
Maxwell Kyon and Jennifer Agbaji.

Around 17:10 hours on Friday, 29 November, 2019, just at the
hour when the Keynote speaker was about to take to the podium, I
got a call from a man who introduced himself merely as “DSP Atiku”.
He claimed the police had been trying to reach me over a petition
written by one Engineer. I asked for the name of the Engineer, he
said he did not know. I asked for particulars of the report, he
provided none. I told the caller I had noted the call and hung up.
In the minutes that followed, the same number and the number of
other persons claiming to be policemen also called. I consulted
with my colleagues and we agreed the event will proceed as planned.
Given the insecurity in Kaduna, I did not feel comfortable to go
off at the invitation of a person whom I did not know.

Given previous correspondence with them concerning the Summit, I
was confident that the Kaduna State Command of the Nigeria Police
Force knew my whereabouts. Indeed, over one dozen police officers
were deployed at the venue. If they needed my presence, they knew
how and where to locate me.

On Monday, 2 December, 2019, I was in Court with my colleagues
for the case of Steven Kefason, a client, when three hefty
policemen again reportedly showed up at the work premises of House
of Justice. This time around, they remained on the premises for
more than three hours then left.

I was billed to be in two different states for different cases
the next day and day after. I returned to the office and was on my
way out when our fronts line personnel informed me about the
policemen’s visit. I inquired if they left any invitation or any
correspondence. There was none.

The day after, while I was outside Kaduna, one of the men
reportedly returned in the morning. He saw my vehicle parked and
made a frantic call asking his colleagues to join him immediately.
He claimed I had been found. The security guards and my colleagues
tried to explain to him that I had traveled in a different car. His
colleagues arrived and questioned my colleagues until they felt
threatened.

In the days that followed, the police continued the same routine
at my office with slight variation.

For three consecutive Sundays 1, 8 and 15 December, plain
clothes policemen had shown up at the Church that I attend
requesting for me. I was outside the state.

On the 17 December, 2019, my lawyers wrote a letter to the
Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State Command and the Inspector
General of Police reporting the above sequence of incidents. In
response, on the following day, 18 December, the police delivered a
letter to the office addressed to me. It required me to attend to
be interrogated by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, SCID on 23rd
December, 2019 on unspecified charges.

Upon receipt of the invitation from the police, on 18 December,
my Lawyers wrote back stating that I had traveled and offered to
show up at the Station at a mutually agreeable date in the new
year. Since then, it would seem that the entire policemen in Kaduna
state were put on my trail. They would call with different numbers
and send messages at least two each day, harassing or threatening
me.

At about this time, my lawyers made an inquiry and came into
possession of a petition written to the office of the “Executive
Governor of Kaduna State” dated 20 October, 2019 by a purported
“Engr E.K. Gaiya” and titled: “Complaint of nearly 40 years of
Criminal Attack on Life and Property….” The petition asked for
investigation of 20 persons and organizations. Topping the
petitioner’s list of those to be investigated was Nigeria Police
for “Abduction, Torture and Extortion”.

The same petition also refers to a certain “Bar Gloria” as
number 13 on its list, after the police, for “N255,000.00 (Two
hundred and fifty five thousand naira) Notorious Criminal.” I can
only assume that in the course of investigating themselves for
allegations of “abduction, torture and extortion”, the police have
decided that I am their “Bar Gloria”?

Engr. Gaiya’s petition was copied to the APC Chairman of Kaduna
State and The Commissioner of Police Kaduna State Command. The
Police have confirmed that this was the basis for the siege of my
offices.

I should state that the spate of harassment by persons who have
identified themselves as policemen have left me threatened and
concerned for my safety. I find it curious that all the persons who
visited my offices or called trying to contact me are men that I do
not know. The Kaduna State Police Command alone can explain why
they choose to set hefty men after me. I can only assume there are
no women in the Command.

I represent a number of clients whose rights have been violated
by the State Governor. At the end of a fully contested case in May
2017, the High Court of Kaduna State issued an order restraining
the Governor and the Police from harassing me. Quite clearly, they
feel they are above the Law.

This harassment has, predictably created a hostile work
environment for me as a practising lawyer.

I am a Nigerian Citizen doing what I can in a profession I chose
for a country that I call my own. I am law abiding and peaceful but
I refuse to be silenced. I am entitled to all the rights available
to citizens. My lawyers have my instructions to firmly defend my
constitutional rights. That is why they have gone to court on my
behalf.