NEVER AGAIN

I recall a case I handled as defence counsel a couple of years ago. Daniel (not real name), a middle age Petroleum Engineer with SPDC had just driven in his brand new maroon tinted glass Toyota Venza past a roundabout in the heart of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, when he was accosted by fierce-looking gun-wielding Police men attached to a Police station within the Port Harcourt metropolis. They all had with them AK47 assault rifles. They were four in number, and two of them were visibly drunk and smelt of cheap alcohol and smoke. Daniel was asked to produce his driver’s licence and registration particulars, and he obliged them.
After a carefree glance at the papers, one of the Policeman folded the papers and held them back together with his driver’s licence. Daniel, whose papers were in order and up-to-date asked to be given back his vehicle papers and licence, and he was ordered to open his passenger seat and drive to the station, while one of them cocked his gun and pointed the noozle at him with the finger placed on the trigger. He was branded a criminal.