Again, lawyers shun Anambra courts over colleague’s kidnap, murder
Court
Members of the Nigerian Bar Association in Anambra State have started a week-long boycott of all courts in the state over the killing of the vice chairman of NBA Ihiala Branch and Principal State Counsel, Peter Awa.
Awa was gruesomely murdered by unidentified gunmen at Eke Umudioka, Okija, on Sunday.
Last week, members of the NBA also boycotted all courts in the state over the kidnap of a state-based lawyer, Chukwubuikem Azoro.
Some yet-to-be-identified gunmen had abducted Azoro around the Abagana area in the Njikoka Local Government Area of the state over a week ago and his whereabouts have remained unknown to date.
The lawyers’ absence disrupted many cases that were supposed to be heard in court on Wednesday as they were rescheduled for another date.
An official memo sent out to all branches of the association in the state, and signed by the chairman of Committee of Chairmen and Secretaries, NBA Branches, Anambra State, I.C. Nsofor, which was obtained by our correspondent on Wednesday, stated that the reason was because of the recent kidnap and killing of lawyers in the state.
The memo reminded lawyers in the state that their colleague and secretary of the NBA Idemili branch, C.J.S Azoro, was still in the custody of his captors after he was kidnapped early this month.
The memo read further, “As if that was not enough, the vice chairman of NBA Ihiala Branch and Principal State Counsel, Awa P. Awa, Esq was gruesomely murdered by unidentified gunmen at Okija on Sunday, May 19, 2024. These are the most recent of the attacks on lawyers.
“The recent resurgence of insecurity in the state and targeted attacks on the bar and the bench is worrisome as lawyers are fast becoming endangered species.
“In consequence thereof, following the emergency meeting of the Committee of Chairmen and Secretaries of the Bar branches in Anambra State on Monday, May 20, 2024, it is resolved as follows: there shall be a boycott of courts in Anambra State by lawyers from Tuesday, May 21, 2024, to Monday, May 27, 2024.
“This is to enable lawyers in the state to protest and address the state of insecurity in the state as there is a palpable fear of insecurity in the state by lawyers and no one knows who may be next.”
The memo stated further that there shall be a peaceful protest of all the lawyers in Anambra State on Thursday, followed by a press conference, and that lawyers are to converge at judiciary headquarters, in their High Court attire, without wigs and gowns.
