“NBA Urges Immediate Resumption of Court of Appeal Sessions in Awka After 10-Month Closure”
The Committee of Chairmen of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Anambra State, has called for the immediate resumption of sittings at the Court of Appeal in Awka, which has been closed for more than ten months due to security threats.
In a statement jointly signed by the NBA Anambra State Chairman, Barr. Mrs. Betsy Nnaji, and Secretary, H.O.L. Nzute (Esq), the committee expressed concerns over the prolonged closure of the court despite significant improvements in the security situation.
“Your administration’s (Governor Chukwuma Soludo) proactive approach to ensuring the safety of lives and property is both commendable and reassuring,” the statement read.
It continued, “It is against this backdrop that we express our deep concern over the continued closure of the Court of Appeal, Awka Division, for over ten months on account of alleged security threats.”
The closure originally stemmed from warnings by gunmen who threatened to disrupt proceedings until the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu. However, the NBA committee questioned the rationale behind the closure, pointing out that the National Industrial Court, located on the same premises, has remained open without any security incidents.
The statement further questioned the inconsistency, noting, “If insecurity were indeed the determining factor, it would be inexplicable that courts in more volatile regions such as Borno, Zamfara, and Katsina continue to sit without interruption.”
The committee emphasized that the ongoing closure has denied Anambra residents their constitutional right to access justice and expressed concerns that people might resort to extrajudicial means to settle disputes.
“We urge Governor Soludo to engage judicial authorities to facilitate the reopening of the court and publicly assure the security of justices and court personnel,” the statement stressed.
Access to justice, the committee added, is a fundamental pillar of a democratic society and should not be compromised.
In addition to their appeal to Governor Soludo, the NBA Anambra Committee of Chairmen revealed they had written a letter to the President of the Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, urging immediate intervention to resolve the issue and alleviate the hardships facing litigants in the state.
The letter further highlighted that the court’s extended closure had resulted in significant difficulties for litigants, prolonging legal battles, escalating costs, and undermining public trust in the judiciary. The committee warned that continued delays could lead to a loss of faith in the judicial system and a potential shift towards self-help methods to resolve disputes.
The NBA Anambra Committee called for the judiciary to recognize the improved security situation and take the necessary actions to restore normal court operations in Awka, ensuring that justice is not delayed any longer.
