Chidi Odinkalu’s lawyer Gloria Ballason accuses police of harassment

A managing partner of a Kaduna based law firm has accused the state police command of harassing and intimidating her.

Lawyers to Gloria Mabeiam Ballason of Mive Legals and the lead counsel to Chidi Odinkalu in a suit involving the former chairman and Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai said men of the State Criminal Investigation Department, (SCID) visited her office on multiple occasions between November 27th and December without any reason to.

Ballason’s client, Odinkalu, is suing the Kaduna State governor and four others for alleged multiple violations of his fundamental rights under the 1999 Constitution, including free speech, due process, fair hearing and human dignity.

Ballason, who is also the chief executive officer of House of Justice, is scheduled to host a summit and her lawyers said the intimidation by the police was connected to her relationship with Odinkalu.

“Our Client believe strongly that the actions of the Nigeria Police force was clearly targetted at intimidating her and scuttling the entire actualisation of the event especially as one of the key speakers Chidi Odinkalu, who is being represented by our client, has had a running stand-down with the Kaduna State Governor which matter is presently in court,” the chambers of Mathew Burkaa & Co said in a statement.

“Chidi Odinkalu, who was also scheduled to participate in the event was unable to attend. There is a suspicion that the ongoing harassment of Ms Ballason is connected with her work as Dr Odinkalu’s lawyer in ongoing court cases against the Government of Kaduna State.”

Ballason’s lawyers said in May that El-Rufai threatened on January 17, 2017, at the Kaduna State Government House when the then president of the Nigerian Bar, A.B. Mahmud SAN and his team including Ballason paid an official visit to the governor.

The threat, Mathew Burkaa & Co. said prompted her to sue the governor in 2017.