An officer at the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has reportedly given her version of the incident that led to the arrest of private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu.
Speaking on JoyNews’ NewsFile on December 6, 2025, the officer, whose identity was withheld for security reasons, said she witnessed the confrontation and helped calm the situation. She explained that the incident began when security personnel cautioned Kpebu against granting media interviews close to the OSP premises after he had parked his vehicle.
According to her, Kpebu was advised to proceed directly to the reception after parking, in line with security protocols. She claimed he resisted the instruction, insisting he could act as he wished, which led to a heated exchange. She further alleged that Kpebu used offensive language during the confrontation, including swear words, and that the verbal abuse came from him rather than the security officers.
The officer denied that the security personnel provoked the lawyer, stating that they were only enforcing standard operational procedures at the facility. She maintained that the confrontation was purely verbal and did not involve any physical assault.
In contrast, Kpebu has given a different account of the incident. He claimed that a soldier stationed at the OSP approached him in a threatening manner and warned him about parking or leaving the premises in future visits. Kpebu said he challenged the officer, insisting that his rights could not be restricted since he was not a suspect and was only present to assist with an investigation.
He further alleged that another soldier shouted threatening words at him, which he interpreted as intimidation. Kpebu stated that tensions rose when a security officer allegedly insulted him, to which he responded in kind. He said the exchange was brief and that one of his lawyers intervened to de-escalate the situation.
Following the confrontation, Kpebu said he was arrested, transferred to a National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) facility, and informed that he was being charged with obstructing an officer of the OSP. He was later released after nearly five hours in custody on December 3, 2025, after public criticism of his arrest.
