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Fracas in court : Anambra
NBA demands thorough investigation
From VAL OKARA, Owerri
Wednesday,
March 9, 2011
The Committee of Chairmen and Secretaries of the five branches
of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Anambra State has called for
investigation to unmask those behind the recent fracas that rocked
the registry of Aguata judiciary headquarters, Ekwulobia.
Fighting had ensued between some politicians and judicial workers
at the Ekwulobia High Court, the headquarters of Aguata Judiciary
Division over an application filed by some politicians at the Ekwulobia
High Court.
The politicians had filed the application seeking to be recognized
as authentic party stalwarts, or as winners of party primaries.
But the court registrar drew their attention to an outstanding directive
from the state Chief Judge, Justice Paul Obidigwe to the effect
that any political matter filed in any part of the state, must be
brought before him before the commencement of hearing on such matter.
As soon as the court registrar informed the politicians of the CJ’s
outstanding directive, the source stated, the applicants became
furious that referring the matter to the CJ first before hearing
could delay justice and they allegedly became confrontational which
almost resulted in exchange of fisticuffs.
This development, according to the source, prompted the CJ to order
that the files of all the cases pending at the Aguata Judiciary
be forwarded to the judiciary headquarters, Awka, from where they
would be assigned to appropriate courts for adjudication.
Accordingly, the case that led to the fracas was transferred to
Awka, also in compliance with the CJ’s directive that all
the processes of new cases emanating from Aguata judiciary headquarters
would henceforth be filed and processed in Awka, from where the
case files would be brought down to Ekwulobia for adjudication.
Ever since the fracas, lawyers and their clients who are filing
new cases in Aguata Judiciary Division became disenchanted as they
claimed that it costs them extra money and energy to travel to Awka,
file and process their cases and wait for days for their case files
to be brought down to Ekwulobia for adjudication.
Against this background, the NBA committee, in a communique issued
after their meeting, noted with displeasure, the invasion of Aguata
and Ihiala Judicial Division by thugs allegedly hired and aided
some lawyers.
While calling for investigation into the identities of all persons
behind the shameful act, with a view to bringing them to book, the
committee said it became more worrisome when they learnt that the
lawyers who allegedly masterminded the brigandage were from Anambra
State. The Committee added, “we roundly condemn this unfortunate
development of an attempt to rubbish the judiciary which we sincerely
believe is the last hope of the common man.”
The committee however noted with sadness that following the twin
incidents at Ihiala and Aguata judiciary divisions, the Chief Judge,
Justice Paul Obidigwe has now directed that the Registry at Aguata
be moved to the Judiciary headquarters, Awka, adding that what it
translates to is that every single process of Aguata High court
is now filed, processed and assigned at the Awka judiciary headquarters.
The committee said the bar is deeply worried as to the consequences
of the state of affairs on administration of justice in the state,
adding, “we therefore call on the CJ to, as a matter of extreme
urgency return the Registry of the Aguata Judiciary to Ekwulobia
since we had cause to refer to the classification of court processes
as ‘Political’ and ‘Non-political”.
The committee stated that in as much as they do not express opinion
on the merits or otherwise of the classification, they call on the
CJ to come out clearly with a directive which will be public knowledge
for ease of compliance.
In the two-page communique which was jointly signed by the chairmen
of Awka, Onitsha, Nnewi, Idemili and Aguata branches of NBA, Messrs
J. I. Igu, C. H. Onyiuke, E. E. Egunonu, M. C. Efobi and D. U. Umeobika
respectively, and the secretaries, U. F. O. Nnaemeka, C. C. Onwuzulike,
Emeka Anikpe and S. U. Onyia respectively, the committee also called
on all judicial officers to be more circumspect in issuing orders
of court to avoid embarassing the Judiciary and destroying the authority
of courts.
Meanwhile, a concerned lawyer based in Onitsha, Cliffford Iloegbune
Okoye has given the CJ a 21-day ultimatum within which to return
the Registry from Awka to Ekwulobia or he would personally take
a legal action against the CJ.
Adding his voice to the committee’s communique, Okoye who
is the immediate past vice-chairman of NBA, Aguata branch, said
the CJ has no right to relocate the Judiciary to Awka, just because
some lawyers aided some politicians to confront the judiciary workers
at Ekwulobia.
Okoye said the appropriate thing to do is to report the misconduct
of such lawyers or judicial workers to the appropriate disciplinary
committees to handle the matter, rather than punishing the innocent
persons who do not know about the fracas, by relocating the Registry.
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