A Judge Beaten In His Own Court

A judge beaten in his own court By Reuben Abati A RECENT incident reported by The Punch newspaper ought to attract public outrage but in the absence of this in a society that is already shocked beyond further shock, the implications of the developments for the health of society and its moral fibre should not be allowed to pass unremarked. What exactly is wrong with us in this country? Is our country a large mental ward or just another land? See The Punch, May 30, pp. 3 and 20, an interview titled: "While policemen beat me in court, their senior officers laughed - Wilberforce Meigbope, the magistrate beaten by Lagos policemen for granting suspects bail." Mr. Wilberforce Meigbope, the Presiding Magistrate of Court 8, Botannical Garden, Ebute Meta, Lagos, alleges in the newspaper interview that on May 19, he was beaten up in his court by policemen, while their senior officers laughed. He had made in the eyes of the poli...Read the full article.

Zanderlex · Jun 5, 2009 , 01:54 PM

This is the smallest of our problems as James Ibori may become president.

Abatakan · Jun 5, 2009 , 02:18 PM

Despite the seriouness of the issue,Mr.Reuben made light of the issue by his headline which indicates the state we are in,no Mr.Reuben we have been lost as a country since the 80s,the death of the justice minister of the federation with no one brought to justice(see l`m reverting to type) police commissioner praises the president for paying police and proclaimes he will die for him,l do not recollect Mr.Reuben sighing how wrong that is,the list goes on,so please spare us your pontification,but of course Mr.Reuben will not read my reply,so it will left to villagers to answer.

chanchaga · Jun 5, 2009 , 02:32 PM

A magistrate beaten in his court by policemen. These are the kind of things that has made Nigeria come last in the league of nations. It has not been heard of anywhere in the world. Who knows what is next???

ajis15 · Jun 5, 2009 , 04:23 PM

What's new? Nigeria failed long ago and there is nobody to the rescue. So sad.

Abubakar Ahmed · Jun 5, 2009 , 05:30 PM

Wonders, they say, never ends. Nigeria is fastly becoming a nation of anything goes. Who knows, these days, the Police might even be tempted to unilaterally release convicted persons from prison, especially where their interest is lurking around.

isola · Jun 5, 2009 , 07:39 PM

One reads something like this, you shake your head in total disbelief! Where in the name of God is our society headed??? Is there an end to this downward spiral?

tonsoyo · Jun 5, 2009 , 08:11 PM

Originally Posted by Abatakan

Despite the seriouness of the issue,Mr.Reuben made light of the issue by his headline which indicates the state we are in,no Mr.Reuben we have been lost as a country since the 80s,the death of the justice minister of the federation with no one brought to justice(see l`m reverting to type) police commissioner praises the president for paying police and proclaimes he will die for him,l do not recollect Mr.Reuben sighing how wrong that is,the list goes on,so please spare us your pontification,but of course Mr.Reuben will not read my reply,so it will left to villagers to answer.

Since you asked the villagers to respond to your reply, I think your reply is simply D.U.M.B
You actually sound like a Police Officer who will beat a Supreme Court Justice in his court.

tonsoyo · Jun 5, 2009 , 08:27 PM

When I visualised thee scenario as reported here, with the accused persons clinging to the Magistrate trousers, shouting, Oga help! Oga help! and the Magistrate himself also trying to duck from the raining blows of the "area-boy" Policemen while also clinging to his wig with one hand and using the other to make way for his escape, I cannot help laughing, even though I am terribly saddened by this report.

Why is that hopeless country called Nigeria still in existence?

igalaman55 · Jun 5, 2009 , 10:37 PM

As I see it this Magistrate/Judge was not beaten in his own court.It was outside his court and he experienced what might be termed collateral damage.

gwobezentashi · Jun 5, 2009 , 11:30 PM

Some judges deserve more than beating.

Some should be publicly flogged.

Some others should be tied to a stake and shot.

Some deserve a place in the Hall of Fame.

This judge deserves to be caned for getting off the bench and trying to enforce his own judgement. Monkey.

Aluta!

Gwobezentashi

NWANZA · Jun 5, 2009 , 11:49 PM

Originally Posted by gwobezentashi

Some judges deserve more than beating.

Some should be publicly flogged.

Some others should be tied to a stake and shot.

Some deserve a place in the Hall of Fame.

This judge deserves to be caned for getting off the bench and trying to enforce his own judgement. Monkey.

Aluta!

Gwobezentashi

You are absolutely correct on the sentencing my friend.

I have this gut feeling that Police and Judge did not agree on how to share the bribe money.

Problems always arrive when the loot has to be shared.

Anioma777 · Jun 6, 2009 , 02:07 AM

Judges might have to start presiding over cases via mobile phones at this rate!!!

Its realy sad that this did not raise an eyebrow. NIGERIA NIGERIA NIGERIA!!!!!

Fortunately the Judge still has his life intact!!

Rik · Jun 6, 2009 , 06:34 AM

Those awaiting trial can be released by paying for it.

Dapxin · Jun 6, 2009 , 06:37 AM

this story is so patethic you couldnt even understand why you are driven to the fringe of hysteria.

But, am I the only one that find something curiously curious about the story in general ?

Somethind dodgy is going on between mr baba judge and his bail-out policemen. This country na waaaaaaao

ndboy · Jun 6, 2009 , 07:55 AM

Na wa o.Is there any limit to the low levels we can sink.Me sha,i know olopa respect only money.The sad part is,it might actually get worse,before it gets better.Hmmn....

Ewuro · Jun 6, 2009 , 02:47 PM

Originally Posted by tonsoyo

When I visualised thee scenario as reported here, with the accused persons clinging to the Magistrate trousers, shouting, Oga help! Oga help! and the Magistrate himself also trying to duck from the raining blows of the "area-boy" Policemen while also clinging to his wig with one hand and using the other to make way for his escape, I cannot help laughing, even though I am terribly saddened by this report.

Why is that hopeless country called Nigeria still in existence?

I do not like the way Reuben Abati put so much weight of the blame on the magistrate. Even when the magistrate left the seat of the court to mitigate against the suffering of people who are being kept under horrible conditions in police custody, he should still be treated with respect befitting of his position as an officer of the court.
If we do not unite in condemning police brutality the country certainly has no future.

the duchess · Jun 6, 2009 , 08:51 PM

Originally Posted by Dapxin

this story is so patethic you couldnt even understand why you are driven to the fringe of hysteria.

But, am I the only one that find something curiously curious about the story in general ?

Somethind dodgy is going on between mr baba judge and his bail-out policemen. This country na waaaaaaao

Dapxin:

I think you deserve an automatic appointment/crown of 'Anya microscope' (microscopic eye) of this village. Mr Sherlock Holmes comes to mind.

I have read most of the posts and was beginning to wonder if some of the writers are talking about the Nigeria tha we all know, I had wanted to ignore the the topic too as it brings back memories, but ....... here we go...

The police are not my friends, actually they killed my brother; and some, if not most of the judges are even the country's worst enemies. And together these to sets of species have the same agenda - take all you can from anyone brought before you guilty or not.

Let us look at this whole case critically, the police 'Ogas' were laughing and watching the possibly 'defrauded' no rank police officers take what was probably the only action they could on Oga Judge.

There is an underlying truth which both judge and his police 'friends' are yet to tell us.

I remember going to court on the case of my brother only for the judge to say, sorry it was 'accidental discharge of bullet' in the course of their duty, ... for somebody that was not violent, the police stopped him, he came of his vehicle to open the boot as they requested only to be shot by the police officers. The judge did not waste his time to ask how the accidental discharge happened. The judge involved had been paid. There was no remorse from the officers concerned.

For the police officers to have been so brave, something is not right.

I know that the judge in this case might be innocent, after all it said that one is innocent until proven guilty; but from experience, most of the so called Lordship are not even qualified to be 'LORDSHEEP' and are so dishonourable they insult the 'Your honour' they are addressed as.

I will leave this for now, but would advice those criticising the action of 'two friends' and partners that disagreed in public to be careful as they can easily turn on them WHEN they reconcile.

Abatakan · Jun 25, 2009 , 05:55 PM

Originally Posted by tonsoyo

When I visualised thee scenario as reported here, with the accused persons clinging to the Magistrate trousers, shouting, Oga help! Oga help! and the Magistrate himself also trying to duck from the raining blows of the "area-boy" Policemen while also clinging to his wig with one hand and using the other to make way for his escape, I cannot help laughing, even though I am terribly saddened by this report.

Why is that hopeless country called Nigeria still in existence?

You live in US and can come out with the above and l`m the D.U.M.B. one?