The scene took place in the premises of the company IREC in Gombe, where a judge was manhandled by two APJ (Judicial Police Officers) accompanied by ten other agents of the prosecution. They decided to break down the door of the General Manager’s office to force him out, on the pretext that he was hiding the GM, who had in fact been the victim of an illness. The judge in question, present for a matter of legal advice, tried to reason with them but in vain. The two APJs attacked him, even handcuffing him and strangling him with his tie.
This kind of behavior is unacceptable and shows a total deviation from the mission entrusted to them. The judge in question, who is a former deputy public prosecutor, has always demonstrated competence and charisma in the performance of his duties. The executors of justice mandate should not believe themselves to be all-powerful on the ground and allow themselves to go beyond their mission.
It is important to condemn this kind of practice of behavioral deviation. Any public prosecutor should in no case touch a magistrate, even less humiliate him as was the case for Judge NDONDA. We hope that justice will be done for the Judge and that this kind of incident never happens again.
It is crucial that members of the judicial police and prosecutors are trained to better understand the procedures to follow when faced with similar situations. Likewise, the competent authorities must take measures to strengthen discipline and professional values among the security forces, in order to prevent this kind of abuse in the future.