The Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on Monday, boycotted all court proceedings to protest the abduction of Justice E.G. Umokoro.
Justice Umokoro, a Bayelsa State High Court Judge, was kidnapped on Saturday evening at an eatery in the Ekeki area of Yenagoa by armed men posing as police officers. He was reportedly waiting for his daughter who had gone into the shop to buy bread when the attackers struck.
NBA Yenagoa Branch Chairman, Mr Somina Johnbull, condemned the abduction, describing it as a direct threat to the judiciary and rule of law. He demanded the judge’s immediate and safe release, stressing that legal professionals will not remain silent while their colleagues are targeted.
He urged the relevant security agencies to secure the unconditional release of the judge who was a former Chairman of NBA Yenagoa Branch during his days in the bar as a practicing lawyer.
Somina urged the security agencies to deploy all tactics and resources at their disposal to ensure the safe return of the judge.
The NBA chairman said that lawyers in Bayelsa withdrew their services and stayed away from courts across Bayelsa to demand immediate release of the judge.
On the continuation of the courts boycott, he said, they were taking it one day at a time while monitoring the situation.
NAN reports that lawyers who gathered at the judiciary headquarters discussed the incident in groups while the NBA held consultations with security agencies on the incident.
NAN recalls that Mr Francis Alonyenu, Commissioner of Police in Bayelsa had on Sunday assured that the Police was working in collaboration with other security agencies to free the abducted Judge unhurt.
The Police chief said they were reviewing video clips of the incident on social media and other footages in line with the directive of Gov Douye Diri to security commanders in Bayelsa to rescue the judge and fish out the masterminds of the dastardly act
