Alex Ebiowei, Yenagoa
A female lawyer, Mrs. Bina Oregbeme attached with the Legal Aid Council together with her husband, Ambrose Oregbeme were last Sunday beaten to a pulp by the thugs of the sister in-law to the Bayelsa state Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson for blocking her traffic.
It was learnt that the couple incurred the wrath of the Governor’s in-law, Tare Konyefa because they questioned her reckless driving and dangerous overtaking by a traffic light.
Konyefa who is noted in the state for her arrogance, it was learnt boasted that they were in charge and that the lawyer and her husband were too small to question her conduct on the road.
An eyewitness, who preferred to be anonymous because of fear of ‘Madam Tare Konyefa’, said the incident took place near a traffic light while the couple (victims) were coming from church dedications when traffic light stopped them.
According to him, as they were waiting for the traffic light to clear them, Koyenfa drove past the couple and allegedly blocked them with her Toyota RAV4.
In his words, “Konyefa blocked them on the side they were supposed to make a divert. The green light was on their (couple’s) side while the red light was on the side of those going through Imgbi Rd. So, husband of the lawyer was horning for Konyefa’s car so that they could negotiate their way.
“Bina (the lawyer) on her part was using her hand and telling them ‘we are making a turn, we are making a turn’, while her husband was still sounding his horn. But instead of Konyefa to give them way to pass, she blocked them. She came down from her car and started barking at the couple in Pidgin, ‘So na wetin una wan do? Una wan beat me?’ Bina was unhappy at her conduct and told her that if the FRSC officials were to be around, she would have reported her to them.”
The eyewitness alleged Konyefa was furious that Bina talked back at her and decided to teach her and Oregbeme a lesson.
He added, “The next thing Konyefa did was to come down from her car. Oregbeme told Bina that she should not worry and that she (Konyefa) would not do anything. Before they finished talking, this lady (Konyefa) came and gave her fist-blows. She started hitting her on the face.
“Before long, some other boys and girls came, and asked Bina, ‘Do you know whom you are talking to? They were many. We initially did not know they were in her convoy. But unfolding scenario made us to know they were together.
“Why Konyefa was dealing blows on Bina, her aides, I do not want to call them thugs, were giving Oregbeme (Bina’s husband) the beating of his life. They beat him mercilessly and tore his dresses. Some boys came and started hitting Bina’s face again.”
Another eyewitness, who gave his name only as Timi, said Konyefa’s aides dragged Bina out of their car through the window, dashed her on the ground and now left the scene.
He said while the ‘drama’ lasted, Bina had beckoned on a police officer for help, unknown to her that the policeman was providing an escort for her (Konyefa).
He said instead of the policeman to help her (Bina) and Oregbeme, he (the police officer), who allegedly confessed he could not help them, held them and provided more opportunities for Konyefa’s aides to wreak more havoc on the couple.
“After dragging her (Bina) out of the car through the car window, they now dragged her to the pavement and they sped off,” Timi said.
He said the lady told the bystanders that after the whole incident, she discovered the gold set worth N350,000 she wore to the church was missing as well as her husband’s two handsets.
He said by the time the state’s security outfit, Operation Doo Akpo, came to the scene, Konyefa and her aides had left.
It was Doo Akpo, he said, that took the couple to Yenagoa Police Division to make their reports, adding that after the visit to the police, Bina and husband were taken to the Federal Medical Centre, for treatment.
When contacted, Bina told our correspondent that she and her husband were actually assaulted and battered by Konyefa and her aides.
The 29-year-old Bina, who was called to the Bar in 2010, said she had reported the matter to the Nigeria Bar Association, Bayelsa chapter, A Division of Nigeria Police and to her office, the Federal Government owned Legal Aid Council.
She said, “I have yet to come to terms with what happened on that fateful Sunday. For, me it was a horrible, terrible and traumatic experience. It is something I do not expect.
“I am still living in a trauma because I cannot imagine it could happen in a civilized society. I am a lawyer and law-abiding citizen. If this could happen to me, I wonder what hope the ordinary Nigerians have. I have reported to the relevant authorities and I have no doubt that justice will be served.”
It will be recalled that the seeming arrogance in the life of the Governor’s in-laws is becoming something else due to what the people in the state describe as pride and financial loose hands which the Governor has given to the family.
