By Bitrus Osagie
Mr. Benjamin Sati, the chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Gombe State chapter has accused a mobile police officer attached to one of the commercial banks in the state of harassment.
Sati made the accusation in an interview with journalists in Gombe yesterday shortly after the alleged incident at the bank premises.
He said that the police officer had allegedly insulted him and used derogatory words on him without any provocation.
According to him, he had to avoid any argument with the officer who he said was holding an AK-47 rifle during the incident.
Narrating his ordeal, Sati said: “I entered the bank to make a transaction and on entering the premises I was asked to park at a spot by a security personnel at the bank which I did.
“But shortly after parking, I heard a voice from a police officer at the premises, shouting don’t park there and I responded that it was the bank security man that asked me to park here.
“In response, the policeman said “you are very stupid” and I asked what I have done to warrant such insult and the policeman then use a derogatory word on me.
“I had a problem with my leg because I had an accident sometime ago and the policeman referred to me as a disable in Hausa Language.
“I think we deserve better treatment as citizens from the police in a civilised society like ours.
“This is uncalled for and I think Nigerians deserved to be respected; the role of the police is not to harass or bully anyone and that’s why I decided to speak out.
The chairman said if he could be treated in the manner he was treated without any provocation, he asked “what happens to the ordinary man on the street who visits the bank daily?
“Nigerians irrespective of class deserved respect from security personnel.”
He said he was going to take up the matter seriously in the interest of those who might have been treated likewise but do not have the means to take up the issues.
According to him, he is going to draw the attention of the commissioner of police in the state, Mr. Oqua Etim and the inspector general of police, Olukayode Egbetokun and other stakeholders to the issue.
This is to ensure that policemen in the state treat Nigerians with dignity and respect, Sati said.
He said even though he was approached by the bank officials who pleaded that such would not happen again, “but I am taking up the matter as a defense to those who may have been harassed but cannot voice out; this must stop.”
When contacted, Etim questioned why Sati would hold a press conference for a matter that would have been addressed at the bank since he went to the bank as a customer.
“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.”
Etim said Sati’s comment to the policeman had not been heard and so no one knows what he told the policeman.
“We must also respect the rights of the police because the policeman has rights and they are humans too,” he said.
