Court Shut as Lawyers Protest Kidnap of High Court Judge in A’Ibom

Okon Bassey in Uyo

The State High Court, Oron Local Council Area, Akwa Ibom State was yesterday shut due to the kidnap of the High Court judge, Hon. Justice Joy Unwana and the  murder of her police orderly, Inspector ThankGod Edet by  gunmen.

Justice Unwana was òn Monday kidnapped alongside his driver, Idorenyin Moses while going home after the court assignment  on the Okobo-Esuk Inwang-Ndon  Ebom road.

The Oron branch of the Nigeria Bar  Association (NBA) yesterday  condemned the act and called on the state government as well as the security agencies to investigate the matter speedily.

The branch NBA tasked security operatives tò  ensure that his Lordship and her driver regain freedom as soon as possible.

Chairman of NBA, Barr Torosco Eyene, who addressed newsmen outside the court premises expressed worry that the Judge was kidnapped after a long family court session where she made far reaching orders in favour of numerous abandoned children.

Calling for a rejig of the security agencies in Oron, the NBA also displayed placards with inscriptions “Security Agencies in Oro are highly compromised,”  “We demand a tight and urgent security.” 

 “Release  our judge or we shall continue to protest,” “The  business of the court in Oro in particular and that of Akwa Ibom at large is affected by the kidnap of Justice Joy Unwana,” among others.

 “The branch condemned in the strongest terms the criminal, wicked and evil act of kidnap of Hon Justice Joy Unwana on Monday, December 18, 2023 on her way back to Uyo after a long and last Family court session for the year, wherein she made far reaching orders in favour of numerous abandoned children as the nation moves towards the forthcoming Christmas and  New Year festivities,” he said.

While condemning the assassination of Justice Unwana’s police orderly, the branch commiserated with the deceased family and the Nigeria Police Force.

It called on the Executive and legislative arms of Akwa Ibom State  government to, as a matter of deliberate policy, provide adequate facilities for  judicial autonomy as provided in the 1999 constitution of the federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

The branch observed that the  Okobo Esuk Inwang-Ndon Ebom road where the Judge was kidnapped has become a beehive of kidnappers and criminals occasioned by the long-winding, blind bends without street lights.

It urged the state government to look into the area with the aim of completing the diverted Uyo-Oron Federal High Way passing through Nsit Atai-Okobo to Oron Town.

It also called on the Legislative and Executive arms of government to critically review the welfare, safety and conditions of service of Judicial Officers and staff including building of staff quarters so that judges and judicial personnel could live and work within their jurisdictions.

On his part, The Doyen of the Bar, Prof U.A Uno described the incident as unfortunate and sad and prayed that such would not repeat itself.

Accordingly, he called for a discrete investigations into the matter saying that lawyers are ready to avail necessary information to the security agencies.