NBA boycotts courts over abduction of Kogi judge

PIQUED by the spate of kidnapping in the state, which has affected a high court judge, Justice Samuel Obayomi‎ the Kogi State Chapter of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) has embarked upon a boycott of court activities in the state.

Meanwhile, the Kogi State Fifth Legislative Assembly considered a total number of 56 bills out of which 46 were passed, 27 assented to by the Governor while 13 are still awaiting assent.

In a statement jointly signed by the chairmen of four branches of the NBA in the state, Amechi Obiechina, Chairman of Okene Branch, Chief Tunji Ologbonjo, Chairman of Kabba branch, Ibrahim Isiaka, Chairman of Idah branch and J. Akubo of chairman of Lokoja branch respectively, they said the sad event has prompted lawyers in the four branches of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) in the state to issue a boycott order against court proceedings until the whereabouts of the abducted judge is known.

“Lawyers cannot be engaging in court proceeding when the honourable judge who preside over their cases are attacked and kidnapped on their way to court. The boycott shall continue till the end of this week until further review,” the statement said.

The statement said if a judge of a High Court could be so humiliated with that level of impunity and defiance, then it is a clear indication that lawyers are at risk while courtrooms are also danger zones.

“We are using this medium to condemn such dastardly act. Security agencies should wake up to the security challenge in the state and the country in general.”

It stated that activities of criminals should be put to check to restore sanity, safety and maximum security in the society.

They however, called on the state government to face the new crime escalation in the state with renewed vigour by deploying more police to crime-prone area in the state.

It would be recalled that some unknown gunmen kidnapped Justice Samuel Obayomi on May 25, demanding N150 million ransom.

Other members of the Kogi Assembly in their separate valedictory speeches harped on the need to provide the House with adequate office accommodation and necessary basic facilities that would aid effective legislation.