“Imo State Courts Shut in Mourning After Prominent Lawyer’s Murder”
Courts in Mgbidi, Oguta, and Omumma areas of Imo State are closed today, Thursday, as the legal community mourns the tragic death of prominent lawyer Chinedu Nwowu, who was murdered in Mgbidi on Wednesday evening.
The Orlu Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), to which Nwowu was a member, announced the closure of the courts in solidarity and as a mark of respect for the slain lawyer. In a memo issued by the NBA Orlu Branch Secretary, Chukwuemeka Okoro, the association directed that no court sessions would be held in the affected areas.
The memo further detailed the arrangements for an emergency meeting of the Oru/Oguta Forum lawyers, scheduled for 10 a.m. at the High Court, Mgbidi. It reads:
“All lawyers of Oru/Oguta Forum are hereby notified of a crucial emergency meeting this morning by 10 a.m. at the High Court, Mgbidi. The Mgbidi, Oguta, and Omumma High Courts will not sit today. Please, be punctual.”
This closure comes as a direct response to the shock and grief that has gripped the region following Nwowu’s death. The NBA has called on security agencies to expedite investigations into the crime and bring the perpetrators to justice, stressing the urgent need to ensure the safety of legal practitioners and the public at large.
As the legal community processes this devastating loss, the NBA’s call for justice resonates, with a clear message that the safety of legal professionals must be prioritized.
