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Lawyers And Judges Boycott Court To Protest Oyibo Chukwu’s Murder

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Lawyers and judges from Enugu State’s five branches of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) boycotted court sittings on Thursday in protest of Oyibo Chukwu’s horrible murder.

Oyibo Chukwu, who was reportedly killed on Wednesday night while returning from a political rally, was a former NBA chairman and senatorial candidate for the Labour Party (LP) in the Enugu East Senatorial District.

Chukwu and a few of his supporters were killed by gunmen in a white Hilux vehicle in Eke-Otu Amechi-Awkunanaw, Enugu. Afterward, their killers set them ablaze inside Chukwu’s vehicle.

In a demonstration of anger over the assassination of the lawyer, the five chapters of the Nigerian Bar Association in the State gave the security services in the state 48 hours to discover the killers or face legal action from every lawyer in the state.

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At the courthouse in Enugu, Seth Nwokolo, the chairman of the NBA’s Oji River Branch, told reporters that the move was taken to put pressure on the government and security services to track down the killers of the lawyer and to make sure that human lives were adequately protected.

He insisted that the killing was carried out for political reasons and voiced worry that Enugu was gradually reverting to the time of terror.

He said: “We are here to protest over the gruesome killing of our former chairman, Elder Oyibo Chukwu. Chukwu was also the candidate for Labour Party in Enugu East Senatorial District.

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“Elder Oyibo Chukwu, whom we are talking about his death was chairman of Oji River Branch between 2017 to 2019.

“Just this morning, the news filtered in that he was gruesomely murdered and assassinated in the company of his followers around Obeagu-Amaechi Road. We are pained by this news and we want the security agencies in Enugu State to ensure that the perpetrators of this heinous act are brought to book.

“We are giving them 48 hours to ensure that the killers are brought to justice. The bar in Enugu State is very embittered by this development. If after 48 hours, nothing happens, we will take a very necessary step as lawyers.

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“Already, we have started with boycotting court proceedings in all the courts in Enugu State. Those who were not aware of our decision rose immediately after the information got to them because an injury to one is an injury to all”.