Mixed reactions have continued to trail yesterday’s peaceful protest organised by a group of lawyers under the aegis of the Forum of Concerned Lawyers of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Port Harcourt branch in Rivers State, over what they described as non-appointment of a substantive or acting Chief Judge by the state government.
The protesting lawyers, numbering about 40, all dressed in their ceremonial wigs and ties, carried various placards, with some inscriptions such as “the law is for all humans”, and “Governor Amaechi, give us a Chief Judge”, among others, marched around the Rivers State Judiciary and the Federal High Court premises to register their grievances.
Reacting to the incident in a telephone interview, Chairman, NBA, Port Harcourt branch, Mr Lawrence Oko-Jaja, said those who carried out the protest yesterday were hired lawyers, adding that members of the NBA in the state did not plan to protest or participate in any purported peaceful protest in Port Harcourt.
According to him, the people, who were said to have participated in the protest, were allegedly given suits and wigs to wear to create the impression that they were lawyers, adding that he was reliably informed by members of his executive that they only recognised two lawyers amongst the protesters.
“My brother, I’m also a lawyer. Currently, I’m out of the state for a matter but will come back in the next few hours. The people you see there are not all lawyers but are hired people except only two persons. And you know that court premises are a public place. But the people you see wearing suits and wigs are only creating an impression that they are lawyers when they are not,” Oko-Jaja said.
The Port Harcourt NBA chairman used the opportunity to thank members of the association for not participating in the protest, adding that both executive and general meetings of the body would be called soon to address the matter.
He said that if the conveners of the protest are found guilty of any acts of misconduct, they would be punished in accordance with the relevant sections of the law guiding the NBA, stressing that the leadership of the NBA did not give approval for such protest.
However, while addressing journalists at the Rivers State Judiciary Complex in Port Harcourt, Chief Coordinator of the Concerned Lawyers Forum of the NBA, Port Harcourt branch, Barrister Chris Itamunoala disclosed that the peaceful protest was to register their disenchantment over the continued failure of the state government to appoint a substantive or acting Chief Judge for the state judiciary in accordance with the provisions of the rule of law.
Itamunoala said that the non-appointment of a Chief Judge has gravely affected the fortunes of lawyers and the litigants in the state as well as other stakeholders of the judiciary in the state.
According to him, “judiciary staff, who are due for promotion have not been promoted; opening ceremony for the 2013/2014 legal year, has not been kick-started, among others,” adding that “even our fallen colleagues are no longer given valedictory session, occasioned by the unavailability of a Chief Judge in the state judiciary.”
He, however, appealed to the state government and the National Judicial Commission (NJC) to ensure the appointment of either a substantive or acting chief judge for the state.
Reacting to the illegal protest, Chief Registrar (High Court), Leonard K. Adoki said in a statement, that the state judiciary was not on strike and has not permitted any group of persons to carry out protest within its premises.
Adoki further said that, “accordingly, staff of the state judiciary, lawyers and members of the public are advised to go about their lawful duties and businesses in the court complex,” and ignore any group pretending to be protesting over the appointment or otherwise of a chief judge for the state.
The Tide learnt that judges, magistrates and judiciary workers had defied the earlier warning by the protesters to stay away from the courts, and resumed normal duties in their respective offices as early as 7:30am, thus ensuring that the impact of the protest was not felt, as judges, magistrates, lawyers and judiciary workers were on hand performing their legitimate duties without any molestation.
It was further learnt that at the state judiciary, the Federal High Court and Court of Appeal complexes, no officials from the courts came out to receive and address the protesters.
The Tide gathered that the organisers of the protest were visibly frustrated and embarrassed when, at every point, they were not noticed or accorded due attention.