PRESS RELEASE : Nigerian Bar Association Condemns the Invasion and Attack on High Courts, Judges and Judiciary Staff in Ekiti State by hoodlums

 NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION CONDEMNS THE INVASION AND ATTACK ON HIGH COURTS, JUDGES AND JUDICIARY STAFF IN EKITI STATE BY HOODLUMS

The Nigerian Bar Association strongly condemns the brazen and dastardly acts of violence by thugs and hoodlums who attacked The High Court of Justice Complex in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, which is also the venue of sitting of the Ekiti State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, on Monday September 22, 2014 and followed same up with more acts of violence and brigandage on Thursday 25th September, 2014. The hoodlums broke into the High Court Complex, ransacked the Court rooms, destroyed judicial record books and attacked judiciary staff and Judges.

Reports from our members at Ado Ekiti indicate that Policemen and other security agents present at the High Court Complex looked the other way while the hoodlums had a field day in perpetuating wanton criminal acts of violence and damage to property. We call on the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies in Ekiti State to perform their constitutional duty of providing security for the citizens of Nigeria.

This unfortunate development portends grave danger to the lives of our Judges in Ekiti State. There is therefore, an urgent need to protect our Judges and judiciary staff from these hoodlums whom we believe must be acting on instructions from some highly placed persons in Ekiti State to unleash mayhem on Judicial Officers and infrastructure.

We condemn in very strong terms these detestable acts of brigandage intended to intimidate and infuse fear into the minds of judicial officers. Those behind these criminal acts of violence have desecrated the Courts which are our temples of justice.

The administration of justice can never thrive in an atmosphere where judicial officers are brazenly attacked and or intimidated in the course of carrying out their lawful duties. The administration of justice can never bow to the whims and caprices of persons who believe that judges must yield to their wishes.

The NBA is sending a high powered fact finding team to Ekiti to investigate the facts surrounding this matter. Any person(s), no matter how highly placed, found involved in this show of shame and desecration of our Courts shall surely face the full force of the law as NBA will ensure prosecution of any such person(s).

We will not allow persons who do not mean well for our society take steps capable of plunging our country into anarchy.

Signed

AUGUSTINE ALEGEH SAN

PRESIDENT, NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION