NBA President Flays Assault on Gombe Judge

The recent assault of an Area Court Judge in Gombe State, has been condemned by the  President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Yakubu Maikyau, OON, SAN, while also calling for prompt investigation of the case. This was contained in a statement issued by the NBA National Publicity Secretary, Mr Habeeb Lawal, on  Friday.

Three judicial officials including a Judge were allegedly assaulted by ”unknown” villagers on November 5, while inspecting a contested land site in Gombe State’s Balanga Local Government Area.

Reacting, the NBA President condemned such an attack and called on the NBA Gombe Branch to work in collaboration with the NBA Security Agencies Relations Committee (NBA SARC) and the Police, to get to the root of the matter.

“The NBA has confirmed an attack on a Judge of the Upper Area Court in Balanga Local Government Area of Gombe State, who was visiting a locus in quo.

“The NBA condemns this attack in unequivocal terms, and pledges to ensure that the perpetrators of this criminal contempt of court are apprehended and made to face the full weight of the law”, he said.

The NBA President also called on the Commissioner of Police in Gombe State, to get to the root of this incident as soon as possible.

Recall that the victims, an Upper Area Court III Judge, Ayuba Buba-Dalas, Lawyer, Usman Yahya, and a court staff member, had gone to Degri village to assess a disputed property when they were suddenly set upon by local residents wielding weapons, eyewitnesses claim.

Police authorities say an investigation is underway, to apprehend the perpetrators who attacked the judicial officers.

The NBA also called for heightened security to protect Judges, Lawyers, and court staff undertaking legitimate duties nationwide.

In the aftermath, legal experts are advising Judges and Lawyers to arrange sturdier security details when visiting disputed properties, to avert attacks. Even routine tasks like levying executions, may require extra safeguards.