Martin Kpebu alleges verbal abuse by Soldier at OSP premises

Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has alleged that he was verbally abused by a soldier stationed at the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) during his visit to the institution on Wednesday, December 3.

In a media interview following his release from detention, Mr Kpebu recounted what he described as an unprovoked confrontation with security personnel as he returned to complete processes requested by investigators.

According to him, the incident began when one of the soldiers approached him aggressively as he made his way back into the OSP building.

“I was walking back to the OSP office when a soldier, and I don’t know why a soldier was performing police duties, said the next time I park my car there he would not allow me,” he narrated.

Mr Kpebu said he resisted what he considered an unlawful attempt to restrict his movement, insisting that he had arrived to assist with an ongoing inquiry and was not under arrest at that point.

“So I replied that no, you can’t do that because I am not a suspect or an accused person. I’m here to assist the OSP, so you cannot curtail my rights like that.”

He added that a second soldier soon joined the confrontation and issued further warnings.

“Another soldier shouted that if I did that again, he would show me. So I gave him the same response, that he cannot stop my rights.”

The lawyer claimed the situation escalated when one of the security officers resorted to insults.

“He said, ‘You’re a stupid man,’ and I also told him he was stupid because how can a soldier insult someone? And in the first place, he is not a policeman,” he said.

Mr Kpebu questioned why military personnel had been deployed at the OSP, describing their presence as unnecessary and intimidating.

“If the OSP building is in danger, do you think we need soldiers to protect it? OSP dressing soldiers and positioning them at the gate to put fear into people. This is a vigilante mentality meant to intimidate,” he argued.

He insisted that the use of soldiers for routine access control was inappropriate and called for clarity on their mandate at the institution.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Special Prosecutor has issued its own detailed account of Wednesday’s events. In a statement shared by the OSP’s Director of Strategy, Research and Communications, Sammy Darko, the office maintained that Mr Kpebu’s arrest was lawful and stemmed from his alleged obstruction of security officers after ignoring established entry and parking instructions.