Lawyers attend court session in Adamawa

The two-day warning strike by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to protest the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen did not take effect in Adamawa state as lawyers attended court sittings. A visit by our reporter to the premises of the State High Court in Yola revealed that normal activities took […]

The two-day warning strike by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to protest the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen did not take effect in Adamawa state as lawyers attended court sittings.

A visit by our reporter to the premises of the State High Court in Yola revealed that normal activities took place with staff and lawyers going about their businesses.

However, a lawyer interviewed said he was complying with the strike action adding that he visited the court premises to see a friend and not to attend court session.

Some lawyers ignored the NBA directive, making it possible for courts including high court 1, 3 and 5 to hear cases.

However, the NBA chairman in the state, Barrister Aji Kamale, insisted that late distribution of the circular for the warning strike resulted in the partial compliance as lawyers received the directive after 10am on Monday.

He noted that the NBA was calling for due process in removing the CJN in order to avoid setting bad precedent, saying if the suspension of the CJN stood, state governors could use illegal means to get rid of judges.

“We are insisting on due process. The laid down procedure must be respected. The implication is that a state governor can exploit illegal means to remove judges they do not like”, Kamale stated.

“Our members are complying with the directive but the circular was distributed today and some of them did not receive it on time”.