Habitual Criminals Benefit From Courts Closure

A Port Harcourt
based lawyer, Barr Chijoke Agi, has said that criminals are benefiting from the continual closure of courts in Rivers State.
Barr Agi, who stated this while speaking with newsmen in Port Harcourt explained that habitual criminals were enjoying the strike embarked upon by Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria more than mine months ago.
He noted that the closure of courts in the state had exacerbated the crime rate. He said criminals were not comfortable when the matters were charged to courts.
Barr Agi explained that habitual criminals like rapists did not want to court because of the fear of imprisonment.
“We are alarmed that the strike embarked upon by JUSUN is on-going, while the state of the justice system continuous to worsen,” he said.
“It is pathetic that matters in court will last longer than expected while accused persons are in a hopeless state,” he stated.
The Port Harcourt lawyer also pointed out that lawyers were experiencing the most difficult period in the career as their means of livelihood was threatened.
He therefore called on government and other stakeholders in the justice to quickly resolve the JUSUN strike.

Chidi Enyie