Several courts in Akwa Ibom State, Tuesday, wore mournful look as the litigants and benchers were present, but lawyers boycotted the courts in line with a directive of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) at the national level.
The lawyers boycotted the courts in compliance with a directive by Mr Paul Usoro, the NBA President, issued on Monday, January 28, for them to embark on a two-day warning courts’ boycott nationwide with effect from Tuesday, January 29.
The announcement which was made after its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, said lawyers reached the agreement to drive home their displeasure of the suspension of Walter Onnoghen, the embattled Chief Justice of Nigeria by President Muhammadu Buhari without due process.
Before 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Eno-Obong Akpan, NBA Chairman, Uyo Branch had sent messages to lawyers to comply with the directive accordingly.
The statement reads “Pursuant to the resolutions reached by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) at the National Executive Committee meeting held on Monday, 28th January, 2019 at the NBA Auditorium, NBA House, Abuja, the Uyo Branch of the NBA enjoins all her members to boycott all Courts for 2 days starting from tomorrow the 29th to 30th January, 2019.
“TAKE NOTICE that in compliance with the afore-stated resolution, no lawyer within the Branch will be allowed into any court,” the statement warned.
To enforce the directive, the chairman set up monitoring committee comprising herself, Bassey Ekanem, Ememobong Udoh, Martins Effiong and Uwem Uko Umoh.
Others were Toyo Jimmy, Nsidibe Umoh, Sembenge Ekanem,and Ifiok Idemudo.
The NBA Chairmen of Eket and Ikot Ekpene branches, Mfon Etokudo and Obong Matthew were not left out in mobilising their members to boycott the courts.
Inoformation reaching Straightnews indicated that lawyers in the two branches complied with the national directive, forcing courts in the areas of their jurisdiction to close shops.
In Uyo, Akwa Ibom capital, lawyers stayed away from the state high courts along old Metro Road and the state High Court along Wellington Bassey Way End including magistrate courts in compliance with the directive.
Straightnews reporter who monitored the boycott said few lawyers without their robed garment just visited to filter information on the way forward not to appear for their litigants.
According to the reporter, apart from some high judges who breezed in and dashed out, few stayed put and attended to some administrative matters.
However, court staffers of different cadres were seen performing their official duty.
Some litigants who never knew that lawyers were on a two-day boycott of courts in the country wore long faces as a sign of frustration.
Unfortunately, some lawyers in Lagos, Kano and some other states did not observe the boycott but appeared in courts to defend their clients on Tuesday.
