By Samuel Oyadongha, Yenagoa
The Yenagoa branch of the Nigerian Bar Association has called for the institution of a high powered investigative team with the required independence to probe last weekend attack on the registry of state Election Petition Tribunal within the High Court complex by suspected thugs who carted away documentary evidence before it and the sum of N70,000 belonging to the staff.

Chairman of the Yenagoa branch of the NBA, Barrister Stanley Ike Damabide who spoke to newsmen in Yenagoa at the end of the body’s deliberation condemned in strong terms what he described as the desecration and insult of the judiciary and the ignoble played by the state government security outfit, Operation Famou Tangbei which allegedly gave cover to the rampaging thugs.

He said, “it is with great concern that the Yenagoa branch of the Nigerian Bar Association is addressing you today, as an unprecedented crude and abominable conduct with desecrating effects on the sanctity of the judiciary in Bayelsa State, has just occurred.”

Lamenting the sad attack on the tribunal in which the tribunal officials were not only assaulted but documentary evidences and cash carted away by the hoodlums, the NBA chairman said, “preliminary investigations points to the fact that on the 30th day of April, 2011 thugs led by an identifiable young man, strategically supported, unfortunately, by a professional colleague of ours who is also a registered member of our branch, invaded the registry of the Election Petition Tribunal for the National Assembly elections in Bayelsa, within the High Court Complex Ovom-Yenagoa which is also the headquarters of the Bayelsa State Judiciary and destroyed furniture, assaulted a member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly thereat and with arms, robbed staffers of the Tribunal of N70,000 cash, carting away vital documents and implements in the course.

“Further facts gathered, points to the fact that the Bayelsa State security outfit styled, “Operation Famou Tangbei” gave the entire operation overt and covert cover, thereby allowing the perpetrators to carry out their dastardly act successfully and get away, thereafter, unhindered.

“As at (Tuesday) a blood stained floor and destroyed furniture as relics of the crime, litter the said registry.”

According to the state NBA boss, “persons who are unconscionable and enjoy playing the devil must not be allowed to celebrate their devilry and assume that ours is a society in which violence and lawlessness dictates.

While condemning the desecration and insult of the judiciary and the ignoble role played by the Operation Famou Tangbei outfit which has, by this conduct, fortified and further justified the call for its immediate disbandment as it has proved to be unworthy of the public funds that is being spent on it, the NBA chairman added that the despicable role of one its members in the saga would be reported to the national leadership of the NBA for appropriate sanction.

It also demanded that a high powered investigative team with the required independence be mandated to investigate the entire saga and bring to justice, all the persons involved in this criminal act, irrespective of their standing in society.

The NBA which joined other well meaning Bayelsans in calling for the immediate disbandment of the dreaded security outfit, Operation Famou Tangbei which it said has repeatedly proved to be an antithesis to security in the state stressed the need for the provision of adequate security for the staffers of tribunal to avert a reoccurrence.