As Ugoh sought to give the documents to Adetunji, he brusquely turned down the documents and demanded a bribe instead.
Michael Guda Ugoh, a lawyer of 13-year- standing, was beaten and brutalized by the officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps on Tuesday, April 16th 2019.
According to the document sent to Saharareporters by Fulcrum Legal, the chambers handling Ugoh's case, the FRSC officials stationed right in front of the RS4.35 Nasarawa-Eggon Unit Command office along Lafia-Highway carried out the dastardly act on their client.
The chambers described the experience as "horrifying, nightmarish and traumatic"
Ugoh was said to have, on the fateful day, set out to catch a 3:30pm appointment when he was flagged down by the FRSC officials.
He said after he had pulled over, one Abayomi Adetunji, one of the FRSC officials walked to his car. Ugoh, who knew he didn't have the luxury of time, quickly reached into his glove compartment to get his vehicle particulars and the receipt of payment for the renewal of his driver's licence.
Ugoh even smiled to thaw the hostile atmosphere Adetunji was trying to create. Adetunji, however, rebuffed every attempt made by Ugoh to create a friendly atmosphere. He wanted Ugoh to circumvent the statutory manner of transaction between motorists and officials of the FRSC.
As Ugoh sought to give the documents to Adetunji, he brusquely turned down the documents and demanded a bribe instead.
According to the information furnished to saharareporters, the following conversation ensued between the lawyer and the FRSC officials
Adetunji: , "Bros leave that one, wetin you carry come for us?
Ugoh:'Walahi nothing dey now
Then Adetunji replied "man do something na"
Suddenly, Adetunji became visibly upset and asked for Ugoh's vehicle papers and began to scrutinise them.
Amongst the documents was a copy of our Ugoh's driver's license renewal printout confirming that Ugoh had paid for the five years category since October 2017. Adetunji then asked our him why he was not in possession of the license? To which he informed him that he had been to the FRSC office several times for it and on each occasion FRSC officials informed him that the license wasn't ready and that when it becomes available, our he will be sent a text message informing him to come and pick it up.
Ugoh eventually parted with the N3000 Adetunji demanded so as not to get late to where he was going.
No sooner had he parted with the money and continued the journey than he became distressed and perturbed that he had been intimidated, harassed, and eventually extorted of the sum of three thousand naira. He thought that shouldn't be the lot of a lawyer of repute like him. He saw it as pure injustice. He then made a u-turn and headed back to the FRSC office. That was when the trouble began.
He demanded that his money be returned to him. His request was answered with punches, manhandling and all manner of assaults. Not even when a military man passed the spot of the incident. The military man only added insult to the injury of Ugo as he asked him to keep quiet and left him to his tormentor.