Imo lawyers lament attacks on judiciary as slain magistrate is buried

A cross-section of lawyers in Imo State has called for enhanced security in the state to forestall further attacks targeted at judicial officers and staff members and court facilities.

The legal practitioners made the call at a valedictory session held in honour of the late Magistrate Nnaemeka Ugboma, the former chairman of Obudiagwa Customary Court in Oguta Local Government Area.

Newspot recalls that Ugboma was shot dead by yet-to-be-identified gunmen on February 2, 2023.

The gunmen, who reportedly rode motorcycles, were said to have shot and killed the 55-year-old man after identifying him as their target while he was presiding over a court session.

About eight months after the incident, lawyers, who gathered at the Justice Oputa High Court, Owerri, for the session, made a case for enhanced security in the state.

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In a remark, the Chief Judge of Imo, Justice T.N. Nzeukwu, who presided over the session, condoled with the bereaved families over the unfortunate demise of Ugboma.

“That he was shot and killed while performing his adjudicative functions has once more emphasised the need for a more pragmatic approach to the issue of security and safety of all those who sit in judgement.

“We are pained and saddened that the judiciary of Imo has been diminished again, this time not by natural death but by death orchestrated by fellow human beings,” he said.

Nzeukwu was represented by Justice T.E. Chukwuemeka-Chikeka.

Also, the chairman of the Owerri branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr Ugochukwu Alinnor, said Ugboma’s death laid emphasis on the security gaps that put at risk the lives of judiciary officers and staff members.

“The security of our courts, the judicial officers and staff that man these courts should be of paramount importance and should therefore be beefed up to forestall attacks on them in the discharge of their duties.

“Security personnel should be posted to all the courts in the state and orderlies attached to the judicial officers to nip in the bud any plan to attack the court,” he said.

Alinnor also berated the police over the alleged inhuman and degrading treatments meted out to law-abiding citizens and members of the association recently in Owerri.