Alleged Police Harassment of Court Bailiffs: NBA Condemns Action As Anambra Government Sets Up Fact-Finding Committee

By Ugombatulueze Ibeka| IchieTimes

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Anaocha Branch, has condemned the alleged harassment of court bailiffs by police officers in Awka, Anambra State, describing the incident as an affront to judicial authority and a threat to the rule of law.

In a press statement dated October 8, 2026, the branch chairman, Dr. Uzoma Dioha, said the incident reportedly occurred on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, while bailiffs attached to the Chief Magistrate Court, Awka, were executing a judgment pursuant to a warrant issued by a court of competent jurisdiction.

According to Dioha, the Chief Bailiff, Mr. Francis Nweje, reported that a man who allegedly identified himself as the Divisional Police Officer of B-Division, Awka, appeared at the scene and directed the court officials to discontinue the execution and accompany him to the police station.

The bailiffs reportedly explained that they were acting under a valid warrant and requested to conclude their court-assigned duties before responding to the directive.

The NBA chairman alleged that the officer subsequently summoned police reinforcements, who arrived at the scene and subjected the court officials to harassment and intimidation.

Aspects of the incident is now trending in a social media video.

Dioha said that if established, the allegations would constitute a serious affront to the authority of the judiciary and an unacceptable interference with the administration of justice.

He reminded law enforcement officers that Nigeria operates under a constitutional democracy founded on the supremacy of the Constitution and the rule of law.

According to him, Section 287(3) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, requires decisions of constitutionally established courts to be enforced by all authorities and persons in accordance with the law.

He also cited provisions of the Sheriffs and Civil Process Act and the Police Act, 2020, noting that while the police are responsible for preventing and detecting crime, protecting lives and property, and enforcing the law, those duties must be exercised within constitutional limits.

Dioha maintained that no police officer, regardless of rank, had unrestricted authority to arbitrarily suspend the execution of a valid court warrant.

He said any objection to the execution of a judgment should be pursued through appropriate legal and judicial procedures.

The NBA chairman further stated that court bailiffs were officers entrusted with implementing judicial processes and were not private individuals carrying out personal assignments.

He warned that deliberate obstruction of a bailiff acting under a valid warrant undermined judicial authority and public confidence in the justice system.

The Anaocha branch called on the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, to investigate the incident, identify the officers involved and determine the circumstances surrounding the alleged interference.

It also urged the police authorities to discipline any officer found culpable, protect court bailiffs and other judicial officers carrying out lawful assignments, and issue operational directives reminding officers to respect judicial authority.

Meanwhile, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice has constituted a fact-finding committee to investigate the viral video showing an alleged attempt by police officers to arrest a court bailiff reportedly executing a court judgment.

The committee is expected to examine the facts and circumstances surrounding the incident and submit its findings to the Attorney-General.

This was disclosed in a press statement signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, L. N. Adimma-Umeozulu, on behalf of the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

According to the statement, the Attorney-General’s attention was drawn to the video, which also showed statements allegedly made by persons believed to be one or more court sheriffs or bailiffs against the police officer involved.

The statement further disclosed that the Attorney-General had received complaints from several individuals alleging the commission of offences arising from the incident.

It said the decision to constitute the committee was aimed at establishing the facts and circumstances surrounding the controversy.

The Attorney-General urged all parties concerned to remain calm and exercise patience pending the conclusion of the investigation.

The development comes amid public attention surrounding the circumstances of the reported confrontation between police officers and a court official carrying out a judicial assignment.