“Injury To One Is Injury To All”: Anambra Lawyers Stand Together In Court Boycott And Protest Against Insecurity
In a strong response to the growing insecurity and targeted attacks on lawyers in Anambra State, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) branches in the state have announced a week-long boycott of courts and a peaceful protest.
The decision comes after the recent abduction of C. J. S. Azoro, Esq., the secretary of the Idemili branch of NBA, and the gruesome murder of Awa P. Awa, Esq., the vice chairman of NBA Ihiala Branch and Principal State Counsel, by unidentified gunmen at Okija on Sunday, May 19, 2024.
The Committee of Chairmen and Secretaries of the Bar branches in Anambra State held an emergency meeting on Monday, May 20, 2024, to address the alarming situation. In a memo addressed to all lawyers in the state, the committee expressed their deep concern over the resurgence of insecurity and the increasing threats to the lives of legal practitioners.
As a result, the committee has resolved that lawyers in Anambra State will boycott courts from Tuesday, May 21, 2024, to Monday, May 27, 2024. This decision aims to enable lawyers to protest and address the state of insecurity in the region, as there is a growing fear among legal professionals that they are becoming endangered species.
Furthermore, the NBA branches in Anambra State will hold a peaceful protest on Thursday, May 23, 2024, followed by a press conference. Lawyers are instructed to gather at the judiciary headquarters in Awka by 9:00 am on the day of the protest, wearing the dress code of the High Court without wigs and gowns.
The committee emphasized the need for total compliance and solidarity among lawyers, stating that “injury to one is injury to all.” Branch chairmen are urged to sensitize their members about the importance of participating in this struggle against the rising insecurity in the state.
The incident involving C. J. S. Azoro, Esq., who remains in the custody of his captors, and the tragic murder of Awa P. Awa, Esq., have sent shockwaves through the legal community in Anambra State. The NBA branches are determined to take a strong stance against these attacks and demand immediate action from the relevant authorities to ensure the safety and security of legal practitioners in the state.
