By Chukwudi Ebele
The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, Anambra State chapter has frowned at the intimidation, harassment and assault on court bailiffs at their duty post by officials of the Nigerian Police led by it’s B Division Awka DPO, CSP Stephen Okwundu.
JUSUN described the incident as horrifying, embarrassing and out of order for a DPO to superintend.
A statement from Comrade Henry Ifeanyichukwu Ezeoke (KSM),
Chairman, Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, Anambra State Branch
and
Comrade Ugochukwu Nwezi,
Assistant Secretary, Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN , Anambra State Branch called for immediate investigation to the circumstances that led to the harassment and brought to book all involved.
The petition entitled Allegation of abuse office, assault, Intimidation , harassment and act of hooliganism against Court Bailiffs in Awka Anambra State by the Divisional Police Officer, DPO , in charge of B Division of the Nigeria Police, Awka , CSP Stephen Okwundu and his officers : a case of unprofessional conduct, intentional disregard to judicial authorities and flagrant onslaught on the rule of law.
The statement read in part: “The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, Anambra State Branch is worried by a disturbing video trending online, wherein a court bailiff was ruthlessly harassed, intimidated, assaulted, and prevented from carrying out his official and lawful duties.
“The unpalatable incident in the trending video, reportedly, happened on Wednesday, 7th October, 2026, between court bailiffs attached to the Chief Magistrate’s Court, Awka, Anambra State and officers of the Nigeria Police Force, from the B’ Division, Awka, Anambra State.
“According to the Chief Bailiff of the Chief Magistrate’s Court Awka, Mr. Nweje Francis, who called the JUSUN’s attention to the trending video, and reported the incident, the Court Bailiffs were on official and lawful duties at the scene of the incident, to execute Court judgment, in suit number: MAW/15/2025, with a Warrant issued and duly signed by a court of competent jurisdiction.
“Mr. Nweje stated that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the B’ Division, Awka, CSP Stephen Okwundu, first, appeared at the scene, alone, with the intention to unlawfully stop the Court officials from carrying out their lawful duties, even being aware that the Court officials were at the scene with a valid court order.
“However, when the DPO could not stop the execution exercise, he blocked the entrance of the property with his official vehicle, and immediately contacted his men on phone, for reinforcement.
The statement informed further that: “As soon as the police team arrived at the scene, they ordered the court officials to, immediately, discontinue their execution job and followed them to B’ Division.
“On the contrary, the Court bailiffs insisted they were on official duties, and would not follow the police team to anywhere.
“The Court Bailiffs showed the police team that they were not on illegal job, but the police team, instead, descended so low; they became unprofessional, violent, reckless, and resorted to unwarranted harassment, intimidation and assault, while dragging and forcing one of the bailiffs of court to enter the DPO’s vehicle. The said Court Bailiff sustained minor injuries and had his clothes torn, as blatantly shown in the trending video.
“It is indeed, very shocking, and an act of irresponsibility that a DPO, in the rank of reverred Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), could act recklessly, and unprofessionally, even after valid means of identification of the court officials were presented to him.
“Based on the videos trending online, the JUSUN, Anambra State Branch, hereby, states unequivocally, that the DPO, with his backup men, acted irresponsibly. The Union considers the act and conduct of the DPO and his men as an intentional disrespect to judicial authorities and a calculated attack on the rule of law.
“With the earliest presentation of valid means of identification and valid court order to the DPO, by the court baillifs, the DPO being a high ranking police officer, ought to have known that the court and the police are partners in administration of justice; and execution of valid Court orders, Warrants, or Writs of Execution, by Court officials, are not subject to the DPO’s discretion, behest or whims and caprices, whatsoever, except where such Warrants, expressly, states that execution shall involve the police.
“The JUSUN, Anambra State Branch, is worried that the DPO’s action is in total contravention of section 6(6)(b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), which vehemently vests judicial powers on the courts.
“These constitutional powers of the court extend to matters, concerning the civil rights and obligations of persons.
“It is, therefore, unbelievable that the police institution, established to protect the rights of the people and help in law enforcement, is now the same institution that is frustrating the lawful execution of a lawful, subsisting and valid court order.
“The JUSUN, Anambra State Branch is asking this right question, Does it mean that the DPO is ignorant of a valid warrant of execution, issued by a court of competent jurisdiction, such that no police officer, irrespective of rank or designation, possesses an unrestricted power to arbitrarily suspend its execution?
JUSUN Anambra State chapter said further: “The JUSUN, Anambra State Branch, is also, perturbed that the DPO is ignorant or bereft of the fact that an attack on court officials, who are on official duties, is an onslaught on administration of justice.
“Furthermore, the JUSUN, Anambra State Branch is disappointed that a DPO is not aware that court bailiffs, on official duties, are not private individuals who are undertaking personal assignments, but officials of court, executing lawful order of a court of competent jurisdiction.
“The JUSUN, Anambra State Branch, therefore, condemns the actions of the DPO and his men, and considers the actions as a troubling, unprofessional, unwarranted harassment, intimidation, violence against persons, and abuse of rights of judicial officials.
“The JUSUN, Anambra State Branch, hereby, calls on the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Police Command, CP Nana Oji Ama to take immediate steps towards carrying out disciplinary actions against the DPO and his officers, to serve as a deterrent to others, who may wish to obstruct justice administration and legal procedures.
“The JUSUN, Anambra State Branch demands thorough investigation into the reasons behind the lack of professionalism and poor disposition of the DPO of the B’ Division, Awka, and the police personnel who abused bailiffs of court, and interfered with execution of a valid court judgment.
“The JUSUN Anambra State Branch states that the DPO, CSP Stephen Okwundu and his officers, acted unlawfully and violated the symbiotic relationship which exists between the Judiciary and the Nigerian Police, as partners in administration of justice.
“The JUSUN, Anambra State Branch, demands full protection of court bailiffs and all judiciary staff who are carrying out lawful judicial assignments, and call on the police personnel to refrain from unlawful interference with execution of valid court processes.
“The JUSUN, Anambra State Branch demands that the DPO and his men should tender unreserved apologies to the Judiciary of Anambra State, and the affected court officials, to promote and sustain
stronger institutional cooperation, between the Judiciary and the Nigeria Police Force, as well as, prevent future occurrences of the similar incident.
“The JUSUN, Anambra State Branch demands that courts and court orders be respected, and obeyed, with a view to demonstrating adherence to the rule of law.
“The JUSUN, Anambra State Branch, hereby, warns against disregard to judicial authorities, any further intimidation, harassment and bullying of bailiffs of courts and judiciary staff, who are in their official duties.
JUSUN concluded: “The JUSUN, Anambra State Branch, condemns, in totality, the intimidation of bailiffs of courts and judiciary staff and officers, in all ramifications. The police institution must see Court officials as partners in administration of justice”.
About Author
