CJN: Ondo lawyers divided over court boycott directive

Peter Dada, Akure

Following the directive of Nigeria Bar Association to boycott court activities in protest against the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria,  Justice Walter Onnoghen, some lawyers in Ondo State complied with the directive while some were against it.

When our correspondent visited some courts in Akure, the state capital on Tuesday, it was observed that there were no lawyers at Magistrates’ Courts, State, and Federal High Courts, Appeal court as well as the National Industrial Court, all situated at Alagbaka area of Akure.

It was also gathered that no court proceedings at the magistrates’ and high courts in Owo, Ondo town, Ikare-Akoko, Ore and Okitipupa following the directive of the NBA.

In a reaction, the Akure Branch Chairman of the Association, Mr Ola Dan-Olawale, who led his executive officers to ensure strict compliance, said any lawyer who violated the directive would be sanctioned appropriately.

Dan-Olawale said if President Muhammadu Buhari refused to reverse the suspension of the CJN after the two days of the court boycott, the bar would take further stiffer actions.

However, some lawyers in the state were also seen shunning the directive issued by the national executive of the NBA to boycott court activities as they were seen on the Ondo State High Court premises in Akure entering some courts to further kick against the NBA order.

One of the lawyers, Femi Emodamori, described the NBA’s directive as uncalled for, faulting the NBA National Executive gave a directive to cover up corruption.