NBA faults Police over court invasion
September 25, 2014
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- Law News, Nigeria News
The Nigerian Bar Association has condemned the Monday invasion of the Ekiti State High Court, Ado-Ekiti by some people described by the state Peoples Democratic Party as angry voters.
They attacked the court after Justice Olusegun Ogunyemi refused an application to set aside an order abridging the time for the Ekiti Governor-elect to file his defence in the case filed by members of the Ekiti-11, Mr. Adeniyi Ajakaiye and Olufemi Ajayi.
At a joint press conference by chairmen of Ado Ekiti, Ijero and Ikere branches, the NBA queried why over 100 armed policemen deployed in the court could not prevent the attack on the court.
The Chairman of Ado Ekiti branch, Mr. Joseph Adewumi, who spoke on behalf of others wondered why the judge was attacked when there were many steps available to litigants to seek redress.
He recalled that the judiciary was attacked in the state during emergency rule of Maj Gen. Tunji Olurin (retd.) when some soldiers shut the court and chased out judicial officers.
Sympathising with judges for what he called “needless fear” they might have been subjected, he said the ugly incident potent a great danger for the country.
He urged the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, to liaise with the Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Lakanu, to beef security around the Court premises.
“This kind of ugly scenario happened during the emergency rule under Major General Adetunji Olurin and the time to put a stop to it is now. So, we empathize with our lordships for this unwarranted attack.
“If political class can allow their penchant for manipulation to erode the people’s confidence in the judiciary, then anarchy looms in our nation,” he said.
The NBA said there was no evidence that any of its members took part in the invasion of the court.
Adewumi said but for some lawyers who cooperated with security operatives, Justice Ogunyemi would have been lynched.
“We condemn the act in a very strong term, we have informed our national secretariat about the matter. We don’t have any evidence against our members that some of us participated in the attack against the temple of justice,” he added.
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