Posted on: 02:52 Wed, 24 Feb 2016



A lawyer, Adeyemi Akintoye, is
currently receiving treatment from
a hospital in the Yaba area of Lagos
State after two soldiers allegedly
brutalised him for “walking slowly
on the road.”

Punch Metro learnt that one of the
soldiers, identified as Uko Obasi,
from the Tailoring Department of
the Ordinance Barracks, Yaba,
allegedly assaulted Akintoye near
Tejuosho Market, Ojuelegba Road,
Yaba, and kicked him repeatedly
with his boot.

It was learnt that the assault
occurred at about 6pm on
Thursday, while Akintoye was
returning from work, during which
the lawyer was dispossessed of a
sum of N350,000 he had collected
from a client.

It was gathered that at that time,
Akintoye, who held a folder
containing the money, was walking
down the road when the soldiers,
who were behind him, ordered him
to walk faster.

Akintoye was said to have replied
that he was not obstructing their
movement as the road was wide
enough for everyone to pass.

Punch Metro learnt that the
soldiers were infuriated by the
lawyer’s response and allegedly
beat him up.

It was gathered that when the
lawyer fell and became still, a
crowd, which gathered at the scene,
held Uko Obasi, while his colleague
fled from the scene.

Akintoye and Uko Obasi were said
to have been taken to the
Ordinance Barracks where the
army authorities promised to look
into the matter and get back to the
lawyer. The matter was later
reported at the Sabo Police
Division.

Speaking with Punch Metro, 33-
year-old Akintoye said the soldiers
wanted to escape from the scene,
adding that his wallet and folder
containing about N350,000, paid by
one of his clients, was stolen during
the commotion.

He said, “I was coming from work
on Thursday around 6pm. Near the
Yaba Market, I heard a voice
behind me saying, ‘Walk faster. Do
you think this is your sitting room?’
I replied, ‘The space is wide enough
for anyone to pass’. I received a
slap from behind immediately.

“When I looked back and saw two
soldiers, I said, ‘What is my
offence?’ I received another slap
and they started beating me up.

“They were with daggers. They
punched me and kicked me with
their boots. People were shouting
that I would die.

“In the commotion, my wallet and
ATM cards were stolen. My folder
containing N350,000 was stolen. It
was given to me as part payment
by a client. Blood was streaming
down my face. When they saw the
blood, they wanted to escape.

“But I held on to one of them.

People gathered and started taking
photographs. The other soldier
escaped. I did not know that a
senior police officer was around
and watching.”

The lawyer added that when he and
the soldier were taken to the
barracks, the military authorities
promised to get back to him.

“It was the police officer who took
both of us to the barracks. At the
barracks, one of the senior military
officers said I was a “bloody
civilian” and could be beaten up by
soldiers.

“Another officer apologised and
took my contact details, saying the
military would get back to me. I
went to a hospital immediately to
get treatment for the injuries I
sustained,” Akintoye added.

The spokesperson for the Nigerian
Army, Division 81, Col. Kingsley
Samuel, said the matter would be
investigated, saying the army
would not condone indiscipline on
the part of its officers.

He said, “We are going to
investigate the matter. But let the
lawyer give a better description of
the barracks so we can be sure
where the soldiers are attached.”