The Nigerian Bar Association in Kogi State on Wednesday said it had resolved to boycott courts, forthwith, to protest over the abduction of Justice Samuel Obayomi.
This was contained in a statement jointly signed by the chairmen of the four branches of the NBA in the state.
It directed all members of the association to withdraw their services with effect from Wednesday.
The statement was jointly signed by the Chairman of Lokoja branch, Joseph Akubo; Amechi Obiechina, Okene branch chairman; Chief Tunji Ologbonjo, Kabba branch chairman; and Ibrahim Isiaka, Idah branch chairman.
It said lawyers in the four branches of the NBA in the state had resolved that they would not partake in any court proceeding until the whereabouts of of the judge was known.
The statement said: “Lawyers cannot be engaging in court proceedings when the honourable judges who preside over their cases are attacked and kidnapped on their way to courts.
“The boycott shall continue till the end of this week and subject to further review thereafter.”
The NBA expressed the fear that if a High Court judge could so be humiliated, it was clear that lawyers were at risk and the courtrooms in danger.
It added: “We are using this medium to condemn such dastardly act. Security agencies should wake up to the challenge in Kogi state and the country in general.
“Activities of criminals should be put to check to restore sanity, safety and maximum security in the society.”
They, however, called on the government to tackle the escalating crime wave in the state by deploying more policemen and other security agents to crime-prone spots.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the state chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria has already embarked on a three-day strike over the abduction of the High Court judge.
It would be recalled that Obayomi, Resident Judge of the state High Court of Justice, Ebogogo in Adavi Local Government Area, was kidnapped on May 25 at about 8:45am in GRA, Okene on his way to the court.
NAN.
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