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BY SUNNY A. DAVID, AWKA
The Anambra State Chapter of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) has taken a bold step in demanding justice for the late Barrister Peter Awa, Vice Chairman of the NBA Ihiala Branch, who was tragically murdered on Sunday, May 19th, 2024, at Eke Umudioka, Okija, in Ihiala Local Council Area.
The association has given the State government a one-month ultimatum to identify and prosecute the perpetrators of the heinous crime, threatening further action if their demands are not met.
Speaking shortly after the protest of the eight branches of NBA in the State over the heigtened insecurity in the State in which lawyers have either been kidnapped or killed, the State Chairman of Committee of Lawyers and Secrearies of NBA in Anambra State, Barrister Izuchukwu Nsofor said the Association would take the next line of action to checkmate government’s failure to restore safety and security in the State.
Barrister Nsofor who is also the Chairman of Ihiala Local Council Branch of NBA condemned the kidnap and killing of Awa, also a State Counsel in the Minstry of Justice, demanding government to take measures to unmask his killers and bring them to justice.
Accoding to him, insecurity in the State has had its toll leading to the the kidnap and killing of Barrister Jude Oguejiofor from Orsumoghu in Nnewi South Local Council Area of the State, attempted kidnap and sustaenance of head injury by Barrister Collins Chima and abduction of Publicity Secretary of Idemili NBA Branch, Chukeubuikem Azoro, who is still in the captors’ den since his March abduction at 8pm, even as he demanded government’s immediat action to ensure his release unhurt.
Similarly, he noted with sadness that Rev. Fr.. Gbulue was a victim of abduction in a morning hour, but was later freed, adding that incidents of crimes are not limited to locality and time and needs rejigging for pro-activeness.
Barrister Nsofor pointed out that his colleagues have been on the receiving end, adding that, as Social Engineers, lawyers have a duty to serve as bridge between the governnent and the masses and demanded for accountability of policing and security of lives and property of the citizens.
The Chairman of Chaiirman of NBA in the State disclosed that the peaceful protest was not to curry pecuniary favour or employment from Government, but to rise against security challenges being aced by the State.
According to him, no fewer than 60 souls mostly future leaders have been lost to crimes and criminality in IIhiala Local Council Area alone, contending that governnent’s efforts to fight crime is not good enough.
H concluded that, as voice of the voiceless, NBA can’t keep quiet in the face of seeming total collapse of security and failure of the State governnent to protect lives and property of the ctizenry..
Responding, Governor Chukwuma Soludo appreciated the lawful and peaceful nature of the protest by the lawyers and revealed that the governnent is not sleeping over the secutity threats inherent in kidnappings, cult-related killings and other crimes in the State.
Governor Soludo who was represented by his Deputy, Dr. Onyedika Ibezim dismissed the tag of existence of Unknown Gunmen, observing that the criminals’ homes are known, given spate of trackings that revealed their communities and abode.
The Governor disclosed that security is a collective responsibility and hoped to establish a synergy with the NBA to chart the path of solutions to the security problems in re State.
Contributing, the Chairman of NBA, Awka Branch, Barrister Bona Orakwe observed that security challenge is statewide and called for improved, pro-active measures to nip it in the bud for a better society.
Barrister Orakwe who is a one-time House of Assembly member hailed the House for enacting relevant laws to stem the tide of insecurity and said the protest by lawyers would serve as a pressure to put the government on its toes to up the game and work towards safety and security of the populace.
Speaking earlier on the sideline of the planned protest, a chieftain of NBA, Barrister Udemezue had said the lawyers boycotted court sessions, but opted for the public procession to strengthen the protest over the killngs of Awa and other heinous crims against the lawyers.
He pointed out that, safeguard of lives and property is the Number One responsibility of government as provided in Section 33 of Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 4 of the Police Act, even as he condemned the deployment Police personnel to some privileged individuals in the state.
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