A handicapped lawyer, Mr. Chinedu Anaje was yesterday beaten up and
thrown out of the office of the Chairman of a Presidential Committee on
Trade Malpractices. Anaje, a Lagos-based legal practitioner was there
to represent Hyundai Nigeria Limited on the invitation of the office of
the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
The Committee was looking into a petition brought by Primlacks
Galvanizing Nigeria Limited against Hyundai Nigeria Ltd. Primlacks had
alleged “forgery, betrayal of trust and other trade malpractices”
against Hyundai. Mr. Anaje was invited to give his perspective on the
allegation.
Saharareporters source said that trouble started when Anaje informed
the committee chairman, Mallam Dahiru Ado-Kurawa that the matter under
discussion was pending in a competent court of law, and as such it
should not be deliberated upon pending court decision. Anaje’s counsel
did not go well with the chairman of the committee. “They felt
uncomfortable with that,” Mr. Anaje told Saharareporters. “The chairman
asked me to leave his office. They wanted to kick me out and then detain
my client of which they had no such powers.”
According to Anaje, before he could say jack, three lieutenants of
the chairman pounced on him, pushed him down and dragged him out of the
office. “One kicked me on the ass,” he said. “One had to hold me by the
neck. They tore the button of my shirt. I was on the floor, and they
were dragging me.”
Mr. Anaje sustained injuries on his bad leg. He said he would be going to an orthopedic hospital to see a doctor.
Speaking further to Saharareporters about his ordeal, Mr. Anaje
said, “I’m actually taking legal action against them. It is uncalled
for. It is the height of barbarism.”
Nigeria has a long history of poor treatment of disabled
individuals. The Nigerian Disability Bill, an act to enhance the dignity
of disabled individuals has been languishing in the National Assembly
for years. Most public buildings in Nigeria do not have handicap access.
Source: SaharaReporters
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