The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ibadan Branch, has raised serious concerns following reports that a legal practitioner, Mr. Oluwaseyi Idowu, was physically assaulted by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the agency’s Ibadan Zonal Command while performing his professional duties.

The incident occurred on November 25, 2025, when Mr. Idowu visited the EFCC office with his client, a financial institution represented by a Compliance Officer, in response to an EFCC invitation (CR:3000/EFCC/IB/CMIFE/TA/425/VOL.3/005).

According to the NBA, conflict arose when the Investigating Officer, identified as Mr. Richard, allegedly became hostile after Mr. Idowu insisted that the institution’s representative be granted bail in accordance with due procedure.

The disagreement escalated when Mr. Idowu reportedly cautioned the officer against making derogatory remarks about his client. He was subsequently directed to meet a Sectional Head, who, according to the NBA, verbally abused him, calling him a “fake lawyer” and an impostor.

The NBA’s statement detailed the escalation:

“The friendly disposition of the officer assigned to the case changed to unwarranted hostility upon our member’s insistence that his client’s representative be admitted to bail. The officer asked a team member to take our colleague to the Sectional Head regarding the bail conditions. All entreaties failed, as the official insisted that the client must be detained.
The Sectional Head accused our member of being a fake lawyer. Following a brief exchange, three EFCC officers reportedly took turns slapping, kicking, and pushing him to the ground, holding him by the trousers before ejecting him from the premises.”

Another lawyer, Mr. Busari Basit, was reportedly present and corroborated the account.

In response, NBA Ibadan Branch, led by Chairman Ibrahim Lawal, Esq, condemned the alleged assault as a “descent into infamy by public officials” and demanded an investigation with accountability for all involved.

The NBA further stated:

“We shall approach the courts to establish the rights and duties of an attorney to his client as enshrined in law. No public official can abridge these obligations and rights without justification. We intend to pursue this matter to the full extent of the law.”