Thursday’s invasion of the High Court of Justice, Warri by armed thugs has drawn condemnation from legal practitioners.
The Nigerian Bar denounced the protest as barbaric and contempt of court, Checkout Magazine gathered.
The Nation reports thugs and women chanting war songs had invaded the court where a suit challenging the emergence of Prince Tsola Emiko as Omoba was billed to commence.
Son of the immediate past Olu, Ogiame Ikenwoli, Prince Oyowoli Emiko, and his uncle, Prince Bernard Emiko and others, instituted the suit to challenge the emergence of the 37-year-old son of the Ogiame Atuwatse II (19th Olu) as Olu-designate.
The Warri branch of the Nigerian Bar Association yesterday expressed its indignation at the invasion of the high court.
In a statement signed by the chairman of the branch, Chief Emmanuel Uti, and the Secretary, Joseph Omooseh, the NBA condemned the action by the protesters which disrupted court proceedings.
Describing the act as “despicable and a desecration of the hallowed Temple of Justice,” the NBA called on the Inspector General of Police and other security agencies to commence investigation into the matter and bring the perpetrators to book.
The statement reads in part, “The Nigerian Bar Association, Warri Branch, condemns in totality this unprovoked attack and barbaric behaviour by the hoodlums/thugs and therefore call on the Inspector General of Police, the Commissioner of Police, Delta State and the Director of State Security Services to immediately set up a team of investigators to unmask the perpetrators of this reprehensible act.
“We also call on the Security agencies to immediately set in motion measures to nip in the bud this ugly trend by providing adequate security in and around the court’s premises in Delta State, to prevent a recurrence of this ugly trend.”
