NBA IN IMO STATE PROTEST AGAINST ALLEGED POLICE BRUTALITY, BOYCOT COURT SITTING

Lawyers in Imo State have commenced a 3-day boycott of court activities to protest alleged police brutality on members of the bar and bench in the state.

The Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Owerri Branch, Mr. Damian Nosike said the action was to protest alleged assault of their members and a magistrate at a court in Umuneke Ngor, Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of the State.

The lawyers carried placards with uncomplimentary remarks on the police calling on the Inspector- General of Police to intervene in the matter.

The legal practitioners from Owerri, Orlu and Mbaise branches of the NBA in Imo State expressed displeasure over what they described as desecration of the temple of justice.

Chairman of the Owerri branch of the Association, Mr. Damian Nosike, alleged that trouble started after a magistrate court discharged two criminal suspects brought before it by the police.

Apparently not satisfied with the ruling, Mr. Nosike claimed that the policemen in a bid to re-arrest the suspects shot sporadically in the court, manhandled the defense counsels and assaulted the magistrate thereby disrupting court proceedings.

The NBA Chairman expressed regret that his colleagues were later detained by the police following an argument that it was unlawful to effect such arrest at the court premises.

The Chairman of Mbaise branch of the association, Chief Tony Ezebiro, and his counterpart in Orlu, Mr. Chuzzy Atama, described the alleged act as inimical to the administration of justice.

Reacting, the Spokesperson for the Imo State Police Command, Mr. Andrew Enwerem, denied the allegations and rather accused the defense counsels of aiding the escape of one of the suspects.

The protests stalled proceedings all the magistrate and high courts in the state thereby delaying dispensation of justice.

CHINAZO ILECHUKWU