15th September, 2014
Jethro Ibileke/Benin
Officials of the Edo state War Against Indiscipline (WAI), on Monday clashed with some lawyers in Benin, the state capital, over enforcement of traffic laws, allegedly resulting in the damage of two vehicles (including a towing van), belonging to the traffic management agency.
Chairman of Edo WAI, Engr. Babatunde Olukoga, who confirmed the incident, said trouble started after WAI officials held a female lawyer for flouting traffic rules along Sapele road.
He said the lawyer flouted traffic rules and called her colleagues instead of following the officers.
“When she was arrested, she tried to cause problem. Rather than for her to obey and follow the boys, she went to the Court premises and called her colleagues. They intimidated our boys and our vehicles were destroyed. They almost arrested the boys before I came in.
“The lawyers were claiming they have the right to disobey any law and that we don’t have the right to arrest them. We believe that they should obey the law because they are to prosecute offenders,” Olukoga said, adding that, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association, Oriane Akere, has agreed to fix the damaged vehicles.
But in a swift reaction, the NBA chairman, Barrister Oriane Akere in a telephone chat denied that he agreed to fix the vehicles, adding that, lawyers were not involved in the destruction of WAI vehicles.