Anambra Judiciary Staff Union Protest DPO’s Assault On Bailiffs As CP Calls For Restraint
The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Anambra branch has condemned what it considered as an assault, intimidation and harassment of court Bailiffs on lawful duty by the Division Police Officer in charge of B-Division.
The court Bailiffs had gone to execute an order on a property on Oct. 7 but were resisted, harassed and arrested by the DPO and his men who were mobilised to the scene possibly on the invitation of one of the parties.
JUSUN in their Press Release signed by Ifeanyichukwu Ezeoke and Ugochukwu Nwezi, its chairman and
Assistant Secretary respectively described the Police action in the trending video as unprofessional, disregard to judicial authorities and onslaught on the Rule of Law.
It said the Bailiffs, attached to the Chief Magistrate’s Court, Awka were on official and lawful duties at the scene of the incident, to execute Court judgment, in suit number: MAW/15/2025 had a Warrant that was duly signed by a court of competent jurisdiction.
JUSUN said when the Police team arrived they ordered the court officials to immediately discontinue their execution and followed them to B’ Division but the Court bailiffs insisted they were on official duties and would not go anywhere with them.
It said despite declaring their identities and mission, the Police harassed, intimidated and assaulted while forcing one of the bailiffs of court into the DPO’s vehicle leaving him with injuries and torn clothes.
“The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the B’ Division, Awka, first appeared at the scene, alone, with the intention to unlawfully stop the Court officials from carrying out their lawful duties, even being aware that the Court officials were at the scene with a valid court order.
“When the DPO could not stop the execution exercise, he blocked the entrance of the property with his official vehicle, and immediately contacted his men on phone, for reinforcement.
“It is indeed, very shocking, and an act of irresponsibility that a DPO, in the rank of revered Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), could act recklessly, and unprofessionally, even after valid means of identification of the court officials were presented to him,” it said.
JUSUN said an officer in the rank of a DPO should have known that the Court and the Police were partners in administration of justice and that execution of valid Court orders, Warrants, or Writs of Execution, by Court officials, were not subject to his approval.
It said the action of the DPO was in total contravention of section 6(6)(b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), which vehemently vests judicial powers on the courts.
It maintained that a valid warrant of execution, issued by a court of competent jurisdiction could not be opposed by a Police officer, irrespective of rank or designation, possesses an unrestricted power to arbitrarily suspend its execution.
JUSUN, there called on CP Nnana-Oji Ama, the Commissioner of Police in Anambra to take immediate steps including reprimanding the DPO and his team to serve as deterrent to others, who may wish to obstruct justice administration and legal procedures.
The union demanded unreserved apologies to the Judiciary of Anambra and the affected court officials, to promote and sustain stronger institutional cooperation, between the Judiciary and the Nigeria Police Force,
“The JUSUN Anambra State Branch states that the DPO and his officers, acted unlawfully and violated the symbiotic relationship which exists between the Judiciary and the Nigerian Police, as partners in administration of justice.
“The JUSUN, Anambra State Branch, demands full protection of court bailiffs and all judiciary staff who are carrying out lawful judicial assignments and calls on the police personnel to refrain from unlawful interference with execution of valid court processes,” it said.
In a reaction, the Police Command in Anambra said the video in circulation captured only part of the incident and appealed to members of the public to exercise restraint and avoid reaching conclusions based solely on isolated video .
SP Toochukwu Ikenga, the Police Public Relations Officer in Anambra said the Command had commenced an assessment of the incident with a view to establishing the facts.
Ikenga said Command had taken note of the concerns arising from the incident and had engaged the relevant parties as part of efforts to establish the complete facts and ensure that the matter is handled professionally, impartially and in accordance with the law.
He said Anambra Police Command had respect for the authority and independence of the courts and remained committed to providing lawful security support for the enforcement of valid court orders, where such support is duly requested and required.
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“However, preliminary information indicated that the Police Operatives were responding to a distress call concerning the presence of unidentified persons and a reported disturbance at a premises within the jurisdiction of the Division.
“Upon arrival at the scene, the Operatives met some individuals engaged in the eviction of persons and removal of properties from the premises.
“In the course of establishing the identities of the persons involved and the purpose of their activities, the officers approached them and requested appropriate identification.
“During the interaction, there was a disagreement between the Police Operatives and some of the persons present.
“Upon being informed that the persons were Court Bailiffs acting pursuant to a court order, the Police Operatives advised them on the appropriate procedure for requesting Police security support during such enforcement exerciseexercise and subsequently withdrew from the scene,” he said.
