An attempt by the Nigeria Customs Service Public Relations Officer, Federal Operations Unit, Ikeja, allegedly attacked, Ikeja, Ejesieme Uche, to defend his colleagues who allegedly beat up a Magistrate, Lekan Aka-Bashorun, and court officials in Lagos has landed him in trouble.

Uche’s colleagues had on Friday allegedly assaulted a magistrate, Lekan Aka-Bashorun, and policemen attached to the mobile court for impounding their vehicles after they violated traffic laws.

In the process of towing the impounded vehicles away, customs officials allegedly barricaded the highway with stones and tyres, forcefully removed the number plates from the impounded vehicles, allegedly hit the magistrate.

He said, “There was an unfortunate incident between some of our operatives and the security men attached to the Lagos State Mobile Court. The security men came for an operation around our vicinity.  We were accused of slapping a magistrate. I am not confirming or debunking that, but in that situation, the magistrate did not wear uniform, so no one could identify him.  But the heads of the security agencies have met and the matter has been resolved.”

It took a reinforcement for the traffic officials to halt the assault and arrest two of the unruly customs officers – identified as Goyit Bulus and Sunday Olugbogi.

Commenting on the issue, Uche suggested that the magistrate might have been hit because he was in plain clothes.

He said, “There was an unfortunate incident between some of our operatives and the security men attached to the Lagos State Mobile Court. The security men came for an operation around our vicinity.

“We were accused of slapping a magistrate. I am not confirming or debunking that, but in that situation, the magistrate did not wear uniform, so no one could identify him.  But the heads of the security agencies have met and the matter has been resolved.”

Now Nigerians want him sacked for suggesting that it is okay to beat up people who are not wearing uniforms.