A Kwara-based legal practitioner, Nurudeen Aladodo, shares with TOHEEB OMOTAYO his near-death experience at the hands of operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps at their headquarters in Ilorin
Could you walk us through the incident that occurred to you on April 10, 2026, in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State?
It was Friday, and I went to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps office to attend to a client, Abdulraheem Omonla.
I went there in the company of another client whom I was attending to before I received a call from the client at the NSCDC headquarters, whom I had gone to visit.
I asked if it was convenient for him (my other client) to follow me there so we could sort out what happened, and he said no problem. So, we went there together.
As I entered the premises of the headquarters in Ilorin, I parked my car in the parking lot. Then we walked towards the intelligence department where my client was being held.
What happened thereafter?
As we were going, there was a tree under which an officer named Busari Babatunde was standing. He was trying to say something I could not understand. I moved closer to him and asked what he was trying to say, only for him to subject me to abusive words like, ‘You’re mad’ and ‘You’re stupid.’
I was respectful enough to say, ‘My brother, I am not a child or a young person. You should not be using those kinds of words on me.’ I did not say more than that.
He immediately slapped me, landed several blows on me, and grabbed me by my shirt before some other officers joined him. All of them beat me mercilessly. You would actually feel pity for me if you witnessed the incident in person. Some officers even said, ‘This is too much.’
My client was also there. I was telling them that I am a lawyer, and my client, who came with me, was also trying to make them understand that the person they were beating is a lawyer.
The officers declined, saying what concern was it to them that I am a lawyer. I was later subjected to another round of serious beating. They took me to a station room at their entrance, where they continued the assault.
Did they allow you to go after the beating?
Their outgoing commandant—whose name I learnt is Bodinga or something like that; that is the only thing I can remember—came and asked them to stop and asked what I did.
As I was trying to explain what transpired, all of them kept saying, ‘Shut up! Shut up!! Shut up!!!’ I could not say anything. The commandant then asked one officer to explain what happened, and he gave their version in a way that suited them.
I was not given an opportunity to present my own account. The commandant said that if not for the fact that he was in a good mood, he would have ordered them to put me in the cell.
I was shocked and asked, ‘What did I do to warrant being taken to the cell?’ I later understood that as he was coming in, they had blown a whistle indicating that everybody was to stand still until the commandant passed.
I am not a civil servant, an officer, or paramilitary personnel, yet I was subjected to such rules. He even said that if anyone passed at that time, they could be gunned down because officers might assume imminent danger. That was what the commandant said.
What exactly happened when they took you to the station room?
They continued to subject me to beatings even in the presence of my client.
What kind of injuries or emotional trauma did you suffer as a result of the beating?
I suffered a lot. The incident occurred around 12 noon that day. The first thing I felt was a serious headache, followed by chest pain. I later realised that blood was coming out of my nose and ears.
I had to visit the hospital, where I was admitted for more than seven days and received medical treatment.
How shocking was the experience for you, considering you went there in your professional capacity as a lawyer?
Honestly, I was shocked. I was not entirely surprised because this was not the first time such an incident had been reported involving lawyers.
They even said on that day, while trying to beg me, that, ‘Is it not the Nigerian Bar Association, Ilorin Branch? Things like this are what we settle out of court.’
They said they would go and meet the NBA chairman to settle it. I immediately reported the matter to the NBA, and they took it up. I really appreciate the NBA for that.
What was the NBA’s reaction to the incident?
Immediately, the NBA got the news, and they felt the issue was becoming rampant and needed to be curbed. Not long before then, another lawyer in Ilorin was also assaulted in that office. He is my friend. They even asked him to sit on the floor. We took the case to court, and they later begged us, and we withdrew it.
Why did the NBA decide to pursue this case in court this time?
It is because we want to prevent future occurrences. If they continue assaulting lawyers like this, what is the hope of the common man? If the civil defence, police, or military do the same thing, what becomes of society?
It is not about me. It is about Nigerians and protecting the Constitution and fundamental rights.
We are custodians of the law. If it were only about me, I would have let it go, but it is not. It is about the common man seeing that justice is done.
From a legal standpoint, what offences do you believe were committed against you?
They assaulted me, and assault under the law is an offence. I was assaulted mercilessly, and I will not take it lightly.
What is your reaction to claims that the two officers are currently on the run?
Nobody has run away. I went there myself and took his picture. He is in that office. At the last adjourned date, I saw him entering the premises. When we got to court, their lawyer claimed they were nowhere to be found. That is not true.
He is still in that office and has been moving around, looking for people and clerics to beg me. It is not about begging me; it is about coming to court. They are being protected by their commandant. The Commandant of NSCDC in Kwara State is trying to shield them.
The last time we went there to serve court processes, the court ordered that the Commandant should show cause why he should not be arrested because he had been served and asked to produce the two defendants.
He failed to do so. He even failed to appear in court. We went there with police officers to serve him, and although they initially claimed he was not around, I saw his vehicle.
Eventually, they agreed to receive the letter. It shows they are playing games and are not ready to honour the court.
At the last adjourned date, they brought someone to court claiming he was the Commandant, but it turned out to be the Deputy Commandant. That was discovered only when the court asked him to introduce himself.
The court was shocked that they had misrepresented him as the Commandant.
Do you think this amounts to contempt of court?
Yes, it is contempt of court. The court is still giving them time, but if they fail to appear, the court will take the necessary action.
Do you think such incidents reflect a wider issue between security agencies and legal professionals in Nigeria?
We have relationships with security agencies. We are lawyers, and we are meant to interpret the law. If there are bad eggs, they must be addressed.
Even among lawyers, there are disciplinary processes. So, nobody is above accountability. The court remains the hope of the common man.
What justice are you personally expecting from the court?
First, I intend to institute a fundamental rights enforcement action. I will be claiming damages because I was humiliated and assaulted in the presence of my client.
I lost about N10m due to the incident because I could not attend a scheduled engagement during the period the incident occurred. I was unable to move for more than seven days.
What I want is damages and justice. We have instituted a criminal case and will proceed with the fundamental rights action on Monday, May 18, 2026.
What inspired you to study law and become a legal practitioner?
I was inspired by the desire to serve the people and to protect the dignity of the Constitution.
How long have you been in practice, and what areas of law do you focus on?
I have been in the legal profession for the past eight years. I am into general practice, but I specialise in Aviation Law because that is where I am currently pursuing my PhD.
Can you quickly describe your journey as a member of the Nigerian Bar Association?
I have done several pro bono cases, which were widely covered by national dailies. I have handled several high-profile cases. I serve several companies in Kwara State and beyond.