CDHR Slams Osun Speaker Over Alleged Brutalization Of Lawyer, Bailiff

–Asks Victims Of Speaker’s Harassment To Come Forward

-Threatens Legal Action

Ayobami Agboola, Osogbo

The Committee for the Defense of Human Rights (CDHR) has condemned the alleged brutalization of a legal practitioner, Muideen Adeshina Yusuff and the bailiff of the State High Court, by the Osun State House of Assembly Speaker’s security aides.

Adeshina, had claimed that the 39-year-old Speaker Adewale Egbedun supervised the assault, disclosed that the incident happened while executing a court order for occupants of a land to vacate the premises at the Technical Area, opposite Landero Filling Station.

Reacting to the incident, CDHR described the action of the number three citizen in the state as a violation of the victim’s fundamental rights to life and dignity.

The rights group, in a statement signed by its State Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Olowu, and made available to CityMirrorNews, in Osogbo, on Saturday called on individual or groups who had in one way or the other been victims of harassment by the speaker and his aides to signify so as to seek justice.

The statement read, “We are using this medium to express our profound condemnation of the recent brutalization and assault of Barrister Muideen Adeshina Yusuff a distinguished legal practitioner and Bailiff of the High Court which took place yesterday 5th of July 2024 around the Technical College Area, Opposite Landero Filling station Osogbo Osun state.

“This grievous act was perpetrated by the aids under the supervision of the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly RT. HON ADEWALE EGBEDUN, which not only constitutes a grave insult to the judiciary but also represents a blatant violation of Barrister Adeshina’s fundamental Right to Life and Right to dignity of Human person *which contravene Chapter 4 Section 33 Sub Section 1 &2 of the Nigerian Constitution”

“It should be noted that Barrister Yusuf narrated the ordeal by stating that he was assaulted while he was carrying out his lawful duty to execute a court judgment for the occupant of the land to vacate the premises.

“In line with the mandate of our organization to defend the fundamental rights of the Nigerian people, we are using this medium to express our steadfastness to challenge and oppose all actions that undermine the human rights of any Nigerian citizen, the rule of law, and the Nigerian justice System.

“The action of Mr. Speaker and his aids which resulted in the brutal treatment of a lawyer and a Bailiff of Court who was engaged in their lawful professional duties stands as a stark affront to the fundamental right, principles of justice, and the rule of law that underpin our democratic society which we are set to lean our support with the victim.

“Moreover, it is pertinent to note that one of our CDHR personnel previously experienced a similar form of mistreatment within the Speaker’s office on the 19th of December 2023 which indicates that the act of assaulting a person’s dignity is a norm to the Mr speaker and his aids

“We are therefore resolved to support any legal actions related to this matter, while we shall submit a letter to the Commissioner of Police and the Director of Security service on Monday to demand justice for Barrister Yusuf

“We call upon any persons or groups who have been victims of harassment by the speaker and his aides to signify that we are set to seek justice for all individuals whose Fundamental rights have been infringed upon by the speaker and his aids.