The Nigerian Bar Association in Rivers State has threatened to withdraw its members from the courts over the increasing rate of assassinations and abduction of some of its members in the state.
The NBA noted that the frequency of the incidents was taken a toll on the legal profession, hence should be curtailed immediately.
The Association reached the decision after an emergency meeting held by all its branches’ executives in the state on Wednesday.
Speaking with newsmen in Port Harcourt, the NBA Rivers state branch chairman, Sylvester Adaka, made the declaration and demanded the unconditional release of his learned colleagues under captivity.
He said, “The NBA has observed with dismay the kidnapping of lawyers and their family members in Rivers state, particularly, the recent kidnap of Iyke Emelogu on August 4, 2019 at Unity Estate, Eneka, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State. Also recently, the kidnap of Sunday Wonmo and Monima Peters, all members of the NBA Rivers State and a couple of others that we have not listed here.
“We demand the immediate and unconditional release of all lawyers and their family members in the custody of the kidnappers. In the failure to accede to our demands and release our colleagues in detention within the nearest future, the members of the NBA in Rivers state will call our members to withdraw their professional services from all cases involving kidnapping, cultism, armed robbery and the likes in all the courts in the state.’’
The NBA chairman also condemned the increasing rate of lawyers’ assassinations and urged the state government to do more in the provision of security for the protection of lives and properties in the state.
“We condemn the increasing rate of the assassination of lawyers. We remember recently the assassination of Frank Igwe, Anthony Wakama and that of Ken Atswuete some time ago. What bothers us most is that in all those assassinations, nobody has been held liable, nobody has been arrested and prosecuted.
“We commend the Rivers State government for rising up to the occasion and setting up the Operation Sting recently with the donation of gunboats, vehicles and other security gadgets and equipment to help security agencies in the state combat the increasing rate of crime.’’
The NBA noted that the frequency of the incidents was taken a toll on the legal profession, hence should be curtailed immediately.
The Association reached the decision after an emergency meeting held by all its branches’ executives in the state on Wednesday.
Speaking with newsmen in Port Harcourt, the NBA Rivers state branch chairman, Sylvester Adaka, made the declaration and demanded the unconditional release of his learned colleagues under captivity.
He said, “The NBA has observed with dismay the kidnapping of lawyers and their family members in Rivers state, particularly, the recent kidnap of Iyke Emelogu on August 4, 2019 at Unity Estate, Eneka, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State. Also recently, the kidnap of Sunday Wonmo and Monima Peters, all members of the NBA Rivers State and a couple of others that we have not listed here.
“We demand the immediate and unconditional release of all lawyers and their family members in the custody of the kidnappers. In the failure to accede to our demands and release our colleagues in detention within the nearest future, the members of the NBA in Rivers state will call our members to withdraw their professional services from all cases involving kidnapping, cultism, armed robbery and the likes in all the courts in the state.’’
The NBA chairman also condemned the increasing rate of lawyers’ assassinations and urged the state government to do more in the provision of security for the protection of lives and properties in the state.
“We condemn the increasing rate of the assassination of lawyers. We remember recently the assassination of Frank Igwe, Anthony Wakama and that of Ken Atswuete some time ago. What bothers us most is that in all those assassinations, nobody has been held liable, nobody has been arrested and prosecuted.
“We commend the Rivers State government for rising up to the occasion and setting up the Operation Sting recently with the donation of gunboats, vehicles and other security gadgets and equipment to help security agencies in the state combat the increasing rate of crime.’’
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