Admin I Friday, September 9, 2022
LAGOS, Nigeria – Lagos based legal practitioner, Barrister Gbolahan Agoro, has raised an alarm over continuing threat to the life of one of his colleagues, Barrister Quadri Oladapo Olawale, a human rights activist, and his family over a politically motivated case.
According to Barrister Agoro, “trouble started for his colleague,Mr. Quadri sometimes in 2018, when he handled a landed case pro bono, and unknown to him some powerful politicians who are members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State that were aggrieved over his handling of the case,have been after his life and that of his family.
He made the lamentation at a press briefing held at the premises of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Centre, Ikeja, saying the entire family of his colleague has consistently being in danger since his residence located at 3, Alaba Close, Off Balogun Bus Stop, Iju Ishaga was stormed by suspected thugs of Oodua People’s Congress,( OPC) and APC, loyal to the other party in the suit on 8th September, 2018 around 7:15pm.
He said the suspected thugs who came on the fateful day were armed to the teeth with dangerous weapons such as Ak-47 and pump action machine guns.
He said: “I’m a senior member of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) and it is a known fact that as a legal practitioner there are several cases which we handle pro Bono.
“My learned colleague, Barrister Quadri Oladapo Olawale, in contributing his quota to the defence of the oppressed has led to his life being in persistent danger from suspected OPC members and APC thugs. I’m coming out to address the press today on this issue without knowing what will happen to me tomorrow.
“The suit number ID/7048LMN/2018, which is the subject of controversy, was handled by my colleague as a legal practitioner professionally without collecting any funds from his client. He took it as a way to fight the cause of the oppressed being a human rights lawyer.
“Little did he know that the other party who is a top member of APC will unleash terror on the family of my friend (Barrister Quadri Oladapo Olawale). Since that day his family has remained the target of criminals masquerading under the guise of political party and ethnic militia.
“I thereafter confirmed that those who attacked my friend and his family members were political thugs of APC and members of dreaded Oodua People’s Congress, OPC. Their mission was to kill him and his family members as a way of frustrating the legal process in court.
“On the day the incident happened, his pregnant wife, Quadri Esther Olabimpe (nee Ajibola, a mother of five was threatened and attempted rape at a gun point before she revealed where her husband always kept his official documents in his office, located at 45,Orishe street,Balogun Bus Stop, Off Awolowo Way,Ikeja, Lagos. They ransacked the whole place and carted away all relevant documents.
“The action of these APC thugs and OPC members has made the children: Quadri Emmanuel Damola, Quadri Dolapo Rebecca, Quadri Oluwadarasimi Daniel, Quadri Omodesola Deborah and Quadri Desire Rachel to be living in extreme fear.
“The trauma his wife and children went through is still fresh in their minds. The powerful people behind this crisis have been doing everything to ensure that the story did not see the light of the day. The gunshots were sporadic as his security guard, one Ifeanyi Chukwuemeka sustained gun wounds, but his securitydog could not make it alive.”He explained.
He further said that on 17th of November, 2018, when the family thought that the incident had died down, the same APC thugs and OPC members accosted his wife at his residence, threatening that his husband would kill her entire family if her husband did not withdraw from the case.
He said the case was reported at the police station and the police informed them that they are investigating the alleged crime. The truth of the matter is that the suspected thugs are still on the loose and they can strike my learned colleague and his family anytime because justice has not been done.
“The case was reported at the police station, and they assured us that they are on top of the situation. They further told us that all the culprits would be arrested and face the law. But they have not matched their words with action.
“It is on sworn oath that my learned friend’s wife averred that he was not only shot but lost all his personal belongings including electronic appliances. His wife also lost all her life savings in the crisis, “Agoro affirmed.
Barrister Agoro called on the government, concerned citizens and the human rights community to rise up in defense of his colleague with a view to ensuring that his life and that of his family are protected from those that are after them.
However, when Rulers’ World News Media called one of the APC chieftains alleged to be involved in the attack, Mr. Bello Babatoke for his reaction, he denied his involvement in the ordeal of Barrister Quadri, saying since the matter mentioned by Mr. Agoro is before the court he will not make any comment on it.
“It is true that I’m involved in the suit mentioned by Quadri’s friend. The matter is before the court and I’ll not speak on it. On sending thugs to him, I didn’t send any thugs to attack him. I believe in the rule of law and I have confidence that the court will decide the case on its merit,” he said.
