Imo lawyers, judges boycott courts over magistrate’s murder, insecurity

Lawyers and judges in Imo State under the aegis of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), yesterday, commenced a three-day boycott of judicial activities to demonstrate their displeasure over the murder of the Presiding Magistrate of Ejemekwuru Customary Court, Oguta Council of Imo State, Nnaemeka Ugboma.

The magistrate was shot dead while the court was in session, last Thursday by gunmen.

A memo signed by the Publicity Secretary of NBA, Owerri branch, Daniel Odiba, and sent to members, reads in part: “This is to remind you that the boycott of courts in Imo State shall commence today, Monday, February 6, 2023 and end on Wednesday February 8, 2023.

“On Tuesday, February 7, there shall be a coordinated, peaceful protest march by all lawyers in the state, from the Bar Centre, Magistrate Court Complex, Orlu Road to the Government House, Owerri, down to the Police Headquarters. Take off time is 10:00 a.m.

Meanwhile, the police Spokesperson in the state, Henry Okoye, who had confirmed Ugboma’s murder through the Police Media Forum platform, at the weekend, said: “On February 2, 2023, at about 12:45 p.m., about five armed gunmen stormed Ejemekuru Customary Court in Oguta Council of Imo State, shot the customary court President, Nnemeka Ugboma, and dumped his body behind the court building. The body has been recovered and deposited at the mortuary.

“Investigation is ongoing, tactical teams have been deployed to the area to track down the assailants, apprehend and make them to face the full wrath of the Law.

“Further development will be communicated to members of the public in due course.”

The Owerri branch Chairman of NBA, Ugochukwu Allinor, expressed disgust over the rate of killings and attack on lawyers, as well as judicial officers in the 27 councils of the state, urging the state government to step up on security.

The Guardian learnt that more than two years ago, unknown gunmen also killed a magistrate on the road.

About the same period, a former Chairman of the NBA, Owerri branch, Ndionyema Nwankwo, was also gruesomely murdered in his office on School Road, Owerri. His body was left inside his chambers until the next day. His driver was suspected to have committed the crime. He fled after the incident and is yet to be seen.

Allinor, therefore, noted that the protest is to urge government to apprehend killers of the magistrate, and for the courts to be adequately protected.