SAN LAMENTS HARASSMENT AND INTIMIDATION OF JUDICIAL OFFICERS BY POLITICIANS AND SECURITY AGENTS

The judiciary in Anambra State has warned that it would not tolerate further acts of intimidation, threats and harassment on its members.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Prof Ilochi Okafor gave the warning on Monday during a special court session held at Anambra State Judiciary headquarters, Awka to mark the commencement of the 2018/2019 legal year.

Prof. Okafor, who spoke on the occasion as the most Senior member of the bar in the state, condemned recent acts of intimidation on judicial officers in the state by senior police officers and members of the political class.

0He said, “It is very sad that our judges and magistrates are increasingly being subjected to physical assaults, abuse, intimidation,threats, and blackmail.

“Most of our colleagues have passed through  this several times in Anambra and we must not let this to continue to happen.”

The Senior Advocate also lamented that “the official car of Justice Peace Otti, on the orders of an Area commander of Police was stopped, detained, and her driver searched, while Justice Otti was locked inside the car. This happened in the full view of the public near a Market.”

He noted that a similar case of a magistrate who was bullied by another police Area Commander because the judicial officer gave an order for stay of proceedings to await further directive from the office of Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) in a criminal trial.

According to erudite lawyer, “the Area Commander was audacious to the extent that he even spoke over the phone to the magistrate in furtherance of his threat.”

Prof. Okafor stated that “these acts of intimidation must stop. The judiciary can not be cowed or intimidated. The independence of the Judiciary is paramount under the rule of law.”

He called on the State Chief Judge, Justice Peter Umeadi, to immediately meet with other stakeholders and schedule for a meeting with the Commissioner of Police and the State Governor in order to stop this ugly trend.

Chief Judge of the state, Justice Umeadi, who presided over the special court session, used the opportunity to reel out a long list of achievements by the state judiciary with in the legal year and make projections for the new year.

While declaring the new legal year open, Justice Umeadi, canvassed for the abrogation of the rule that prevents judges from returning to full legal practice after their sojourn in the judicial bench, noting that other countries had waved this rule.

According to Justice Umeadi, “a judge will certainly be more relaxed, bold and more resolute, if he or she is aware that regardless of any untoward occurrence, he or she can still dust the wig and gown and return to legal practice.

“Afterall, a returning judicial officer to the bar would not change the law,” he reiterated.

EJIOFO UMEGBOGU

Previous post HEALTH EXPERTS CAUTION AGAINST USE OF CELLOPHANE TO WRAP OKPA DELICACY.
Next post ORGANISED LABOUR IN IMO SET TO DOWN TOOLS
Top