Judge’s Harassment: Lawyers Boycott Court in Benin

Steve Aya

The Nigerian Bar Association, Benin Branch has threatened that it’s members will boycott a particular High Court No. 6 in Benin, over what it described as harassment and intimidation of its members, by the presiding Judge. The body of Lawyers has therefore, given an order to that effect to its members via a statement.

In a statement signed by the Association’s Chairman and Secretary, Pius Oiwoh and Andrew Lawani respectively, the body insisted that its decision to boycott the court was a unanimous one, with regard to the “incessant and relentless harassment, intimidation, outright insults and deliberate embarrassment to counsel” appearing before the Judge.
The decision according to the statement, was reached at an August meeting of the Lion Bar in Benin, which was attended by Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Benchers, elders, leaders and members of the Bar.

The statement alleged that the Judge harassed, insulted and intimidated SANs and other very senior members of the Bar, in the presence of their clients and would-be clients.

‘Any member who flouts this directive under any guise, shall be liable to be blacklisted at the Branch and made to face its disciplinary Committee.

‘Consequently, all members of the Association are directed to embark on a total boycott of the court, and are not permitted to carry out any business in the said court till a subsequent review of this directive by the general meeting”, the statement added.