Imo lawyers boycott courts in protest of colleague’s murder

By JUDE AGUGUO OWUAMANAM, Owerri

Members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Imo State on Monday boycotted courts to protest the killing of one of their colleagues.

Darlington Odume, popularly known as Omekagu, was murdered on September 16 at the parking lot of a supermarket at Amaifeke in Orlu.

Odume, a native of Umudara village in Amaifeke-Orlu, was called to the Nigerian Bar five years ago.

Until his death, he was a member of Orlu branch of the NBA.

The lawyer, who was practising in Orlu town, was said to be the attorney to some of those arrested in connection with the violence rocking the area.

Chairman of NBA in Imo, Jude Ikechukwu Ogamba, told our correspondent in an interview that the boycott was for three days.

He said the action was ordered by the Orlu branch of the association, with concurrence of the acting chief judge of the state.

He said the action was to highlight the dangers being faced by legal practitioners in the state and the need to provide adequate security for the citizenry.

He said, “We want to raise the alarm about the deteriorating security situation in the state and the need for the security agencies to up their game in the protection of lives and property.”

When our correspondent visited the Oputa high court premises on Monday, litigants and their counsel, who were caught unawares, were seen stranded. (Daily Trust)