How Police Inspector deployed to Access Bank allegedly assaulted Gombe NBA Chairman
…..calls him ‘Disabled’
Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association Benjamin Sati, has lamented how a Police Inspector allegedly assaulted him whilst at a commercial bank for transaction purpose.
Addressing journalists on Wednesday, Sati, disclosed how the yet to be identified police officer deployed to the bank called him stupid, and a ‘disabled person’, adding that its was derogatory term of referring to Persons With Disabilities.
Sati who following an accident uses prosthetics leg, frowned at the use of his physical feature to address him despite his formal dressing and societal attainment.
He said, “I was here in company of my friend, I came to do a transaction at the entry point of Access Bank, Gombe market branch premises. I met the security who opened gate for me drove the car into the premises even the last time I came that was where I parked.
“I spoke to the gate man that I will move my car if there is need. Soon the police man started shouting who is that one don’t park there but I told him that the security man asked me to park there, immediately he said I’m very stupid. I didn’t introduce myself because there was no need. When I told him that my father is a retired superintendent of Police he said I know you very well, I don’t know him but he probably knows me.
“He used a derogatory word on me. I have a problem with my leg, I had an accident and he referred to me as a disabled in Hausa. I believe we deserve something much better than this in a civilised society. He referred to me as ‘musaki or miskini’ he called it, I really can’t say. I refused to be angry and when people probably told him about my identity, a colleague of his apologised but he became more angry. This is so uncivilised, so barbaric we are in a digital age, someone should not take us to era of hunting and gardening. I didn’t trek from Federal Low-cost, I drove and someone will look at me in my suit and say I’m stupid. I’m corporately dressed how will this man address a beggar on the road, if he will look at me and say am stupid. I believe Nigerians deserve to be defended, if he is allowed he will kill an ordinary Nigerian.”
He disclosed that the officer was in possession of a fully loaded firearm, “he had fully loaded double magazine AK-47. He was advancing and he may slap me if not that I moved back.”
When contacted, Gombe Commissioner of Police, Oqua Etim, expressed displeasure over Sati’s claims, saying that he was a bank customer, so needed to allow the issues to be dealt with there without involving the media.
“He (Sati) went to the bank as a customer and not as an NBA chairman as such he should have obeyed the instruction of the officers on the ground.
“If there is a problem between an employee in the bank and a customer, who do you report to? The manager? How does press come into it?
He told the press that he was insulted but what did he tell the policeman too?
Everyone goes to the bank and no complaints had been received so why is it that it was him that was allegedly insulted.
“Why has the policeman not insulted any other person but him if that was the case; is it not the way you comport yourself that earns you respect?
“You don’t abuse privileges, you go to the bank as a bank customer and if you have a problem complain to the bank.”
Speaking further Etim said the Inspector had not been heard and so no one knows what he told the officer, adding “We must also respect the rights of the police because the policeman has rights and they are humans too.”
It’s very unfortunate that a policeman insulted our amiable Bar Chairman. This attitude of a policeman must be condemned in a strong term and call for discreet investigation into the act of unbecoming of a policeman.
But most time they behave in a barbaric manner,police and there wahala
Hmmmm, sometimes I wonder how and why some of theNigerian police personnel always bring shame to the force, if a disciplinary should be taken against him now, he will start pleading.
My Dad was a retired police too but my relationship with Policemen cut off When my Uncle Late Barr. Mado Yarodari was shot to death by MoPol on his way home from Gombe