In a letter to the Nigerian authorities Lawyers for Lawyers expressed concern about the maltreatment of lawyer Justus Ijeoma by the police.
Justus Ijeoma is a Nigerian human rights lawyer and the executive director of the International Human Rights and Equity Defense Foundation (I-REF). His work especially focuses on police violence. By providing free legal services and advice his organization aims to improve the access to justice of the population and the public accountability.
According to the information we received, Mr. Ijeoma was assaulted by officers of the anti-kidnapping unit of the Nigerian police force when accompanying a client to the State Command Headquarters of the Nigerian Police in Asaba, on March 26th, 2019. Mr. Ijeoma was physically attacked and detained for a short period of time. Due to the physical attack, Mr. Ijeoma had to undergo an X-ray the next day.
In the letter Lawyers for Lawyers called on the Nigerian authorities to carry out a prompt, thorough, impartial and transparent investigation into the described incident of March 26th, 2019, so as to identify all those responsible.
