- Safiu Kehinde
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Anambra Chapter, has ordered has directed all lawyers to boycott all court sittings in the state from May 20 to May 21 in protest against the murder of their colleague, Mr Ifeanyi-Rolex Iloakasia.
This was contained in a statement issued on Friday by K.G. Abonyi, Chairman, Committee of Chairmen and Secretaries of NBA Anambra.
Iloakasia, a member of Otuocha Bar was killed alongside his client in Nanka, Orumba North Local Government Area as they were returning from court sitting in Ekwulobia High Court on May 15.
The NBA described the mysterious attack as a “blatant assault” on the legal profession and the rule of law.
Expressing their grievances over the ‘senseless” killing, the lawyers maintained that the tragic loss of Awa P. Awa, former Vice Chairman of Ihiala Branch of the NBA, still remained fresh in their memories.
They demanded for justice while charging the relevant authorities to leave no stone unturned in the pursuit of truth and accountability.
“We appreciate the swift response of the Commissioner of Police, Anambra who promptly visited the crime scene for an on-the-spot assessment and directed the commencement of preliminary investigations into the murder.
“However, we urge the Commissioner of Police, DSS, and other law enforcement agencies to intensify efforts to ensure that the perpetrators do not evade justice.
“Speedy action is crucial in identifying and apprehending those responsible for this horrific crime,
“Too many lawyers have been sacrificed to insecurity in this state and the legal profession cannot thrive under an atmosphere of fear and insecurity,” the statement read.
The NBA also called on Gov. Chukwuma Soludo to revamp and strengthen security operations across the state to prevent such tragic occurrences in the future.