‘We’ll seek legal redress’ – NBA responds to DSS’ 3-year detention of its member

The Abakaliki branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has expressed dismay over the detention of one of its members, Pius Awoke, for three years.

The association said before his release, the legal practitioner was detained in three different cells of the Department of State Services, DSS, in Kogi, Abuja, and Niger states in a dehumanising manner.

The lawyer was arrested on July 26, 2021, while returning from Abuja after attending the arraignment and trial of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.

He was taken to different DSS custody before finally regaining his freedom last week, June 21, 2024.

NBA condemned the detention and vowed to fight it legally when Pius Awoke recovers from the health challenges he has as a result of the long incarceration.

The chairman of NBA, Abakaliki Branch, Edeh Samuel Edeh, who stated this while speaking, said the law must take its course on the matter.

According to him, the detention of the legal practitioner has brought untold hardship to his family and other dependents.

“This man went for a legitimate duty as a lawyer. He went to court to represent a client, and as he was returning from Abuja, he was arrested by DSS.

“Now, the issue here is, since when has it been unlawful that a lawyer should represent a client? If a member of DSS is alleged to have committed one offence or another, won’t he have the right to brief a lawyer to represent him?

“So, the way Pius Awoke, being our member, was humiliated, and dehumanised is something too gory, too bad, and unacceptable, and on behalf of NBA Abakaliki branch, we condemn such. Even the National NBA, is also feeling very bad. The President and the entire body, we have been on phones, we have been discussing and I know several efforts that were made and through the efforts of the National President, Pius Awoke has been released.

“If you look at his family, you will shed tears. His wife and the entire family have gone through untold hardship during these three years Pius Awoke was in the DSS cells as if Pius had died. But there must be punitive measures; they have to pay, and they will pay for it.

“The association is still studying the situation. Let Pius get himself; we will take it up from there,” Edeh stated.