17th May 2024
Members of the Nigerian Bar Association in Anambra State on Thursday boycotted all courts in the state over the kidnap of a state-based lawyer, Chukwubuikem Azoro.
The body said this move was to give voice to the decision of the NBA, Idemili Branch, which had earlier declared May 16 and 17 a total shutdown of courts in the state and press for the release of their abducted colleague.
This notice of the boycott was signed on behalf of the NBA, Anambra State branch, by the Chairman, Committee of Chairmen and Secretaries, NBA Branches, Anambra State, I.C. Nsofor, on Thursday.
Some yet-to-be-identified gunmen abducted Azoro around the Abagana area in the Njikoka Local Government Area of the state on Saturday and his whereabouts have remained unknown till date.
Azoro, the Secretary of Idemili Branch of the NBA, was said to have been kidnapped two weeks after his wedding.
The abduction was also confirmed by the founder of Due Process Advocates, Attorney Emeka Ugwuonye, in a post on the group’s official Facebook page.
According to Ugwuonye, the advocacy group received a message from its head office in the United States of America that Azoro was kidnapped in Anambra State where he lives and practises law.
He, however, called on the Anambra police command to leave no stone unturned in seeking the safe release of Azoro.
He said, “Barrister C.J.S. Azoro was kidnapped on Monday, two weeks after his memorable marriage in Anambra State. Our head office in the United States received a message this morning informing us that Mr. Azoro was kidnapped in Anambra State where he lives and practises law.
“Our lawyers in Awka spoke so highly of Mr. Azoro as a dependable professional colleague they have collaborated with many times in the past.
“Our sympathy goes to Mr Azoro’s family, especially his lovely wife, who is another professional colleague. We pray for his safety and at the same time, we urge the Anambra State Government and the Nigerian Police to leave no stone unturned in seeking the safe release of Barrister Azoro.”
The notice by the NBA titled, ‘Re: Boycott of courts by lawyers on Thursday 16th May’, read in part, “The Nigerian Bar Association in Anambra State has announced a total boycott of all courts in the state. This move is to give voice to the decision of the NBA Idemili Branch which had earlier declared May 16 and 17 a total shutdown.
“All the NBA Branches in Anambra State are by this notice urged to stay away from all courts in the state.
“This is to inform all colleagues in the state that there shall be a boycott of courts in Anambra State on Thursday, May 16, 2024.
“This is to enable lawyers to press for the immediate release of our colleague and secretary of Idemili branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, Chukwubuikem J. S. Azoro, who was kidnapped at Abagana, on Saturday, May 11, 2024.”
When contacted on the development, the Anambra State Police spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the command had not received the report of the lawyer’s abduction, but said members of the NBA were at the command to see the Commissioner of Police.
Ikenga, however, did not disclose the reason for the visit.
However, a source and a member of the NBA, Ezekiel Mba, confirmed to our correspondent after the meeting, that the CP, Nnaghe Itam, assured the members that security operatives would swing into action to rescue the abducted lawyer.
“Yes, we met with the CP today and he assured us that his men will swing into action to rescue our abducted colleague. There was a total boycott in all the courts in Anambra State today and tomorrow, courts in Idemili LGA will be shut down to press for the release of our colleague,” he added.
SOURCE:PUNCH