Anambra Lawyers To Boycott All Courts From Today In Protest Of Rising Insecurity

Awka – The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Anambra State has urged its members to boycott all courts in the state from Monday 22nd March to Wednesday, 24th March 2021, to demonstrate their displeasure over the spate of kidnappings, killings and other forms of insecurity in the state.

On the 12th of this month, a Lawyer, Bar Frank Onwuachi, who is also the President-General of Omor in Ayamelum Council Area of Anambra State, was kidnapped along Ezu River/Anaku road by unknown bandits.

He was gruesomely murdered the following day by his captors.

In a statement jointly signed by all Chairmen of the eight NBA branches in the State and made available to TNC on Monday, the Anambra NBA bemoaned the worsening security situation in Anambra State.

It called on the Federal Government, Anambra State Government and heads of Security agencies to wake up and be alive to their responsibilities of protecting lives and properties of the citizens.

The statement read; “The Committee of Chairmen and Secretaries of the Nigerian Bar Association Branches in Anambra State notes that the security situation in Anambra State is highly tensed up and frightening to say the least.

“Recently, there has been cases of kidnap and gruesome murder/killing of innocent citizens and security personnel in the State and nothing is being done to curb this frightening security challenges in the State.

“On the 19th of March, two Prison Officers were killed at Ekwulobia, Aguata LGA and this is barely 24 hours after Naval officers and policemen were killed at Awkuzu and Neni respectively.

“Also, a Naval Outpost close to Bridgehead was attacked sometimes last week resulting to the killings of some Naval officers and their weapons carted away.

“We all cannot continue to downplay the Security situation or pretend that all is well.”

The Committee called on the State Government to as a matter of urgency, summon a meeting of various Security agencies in the State to address the worrisome security situations and tackle it headlong.

“Failure by the State Government to act immediately may lead to a descent to anarchy. The time to act is now,” the Lawyers warned.

Speaking further on the boycott plans, the Committee, said all lawyers in Anambra State will converge on the Judiciary Headquarters, Awka today by 12 noon for onward movement to the Government House, Awka to express their dissatisfaction with the current security situation in Anambra State.

Among the various branch chairmen who were signatories to the statement include Mr. Ekene Okonkwo (Chairman NBA, Awka Branch), Mr. Kaine Ananwune (Chairman NBA, Anaocha Branch), Mr A.U Okafor (Chairman NBA, Otuocha Branch) and Mr Kingsley Awuka (Chairman NBA, Nnewi Branch).

 

Others were Mr B.E Ewulum, PhD (Chairman NBA, Idemili Branch), Mr Vitalis Ihedigbo (Chairman NBA, Ihiala Branch), Mr Abel Ofoma (Chairman NBA, Aguata Branch) and Mr. Onyechi Ononye (Chairman NBA, Onitsha Branch and Chairman, NBA Branches in Anambra State).

 

Subscribe to our newsletter for latest news and updates. You can disable anytime.