Ekiti lawyers warn about descent to anarchy

Ekiti lawyers warn about descent to anarchy

Friday, September 26, 2014 7:37 pm


Lawyers in Ado-Ekiti have decried Thursday’s attack on a judge of the Ekiti High Court, Justice John Adeyeye.

The attack was led by Governor elect, Ayo Fayose, working in concert with his thugs.

Today, the state capital witnessed a second round of violence, outside of the court after the killing Thursday night of a close ally of Fayose, Chief Omolafe Aderiye, who also was a former chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers(NURTW).

The lawyers grouped under the Ado Ekiti branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, condemned the killing Aderiye.

The local NBA Chairman, Mr Joseph Adewumi and the Secretary, Mr Gbemiga Adaramola, said the desecration of the temple of justice would not be condoned by the NBA and should also be decried by justice and peace-loving Nigerians.

Adewumi said while the association was still feeling bad about Monday’s incident during which the court room of a judge, Justice Olusegun Ogunyemi was invaded, it came as a shock that a repeat of the ugly incident took place.

On whether Justice Adeyeye was holding court session when the alleged attack took place, Adewumi said the NBA could not confirm that.

On the implications of the siege on the judiciary, Adewumi opined that it could lead to a state of anarchy.

“First, a serious constitutional crisis is coming in the state if by act of commission or omission an atmosphere of anarchy is encouraged on the temple of justice in the state.

“This is, because, that may have serious implication on the performance of the constitutional duty of the head of court in the state with respect to compliance with Section 185 (2) of the 1999 Constitution.

“If the current assault on the judges of the Ekiti State judiciary is allowed to continue, they would have lost the necessary independence that should be the bedrock of the performance of their constitutional duties,” he said.

The NBA therefore called for a thorough investigation of the incident and that anybody found culpable be brought to book.

Adewumi called on the Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State Command, Mr Taiwo Lakanu, to ensure adequate security of lives and properties in the state.

He also called on the CP to extract letters of undertaking to be of good behaviour from political gladiators in the state.

On Aderiye’s killing, the NBA boss said politicians should find peaceful means of settling their differences.

“God is there to judge every perpetrator of evil whether now or in the near future irrespective of status, the killing is not only ungodly, the destruction of human lives is condemnable,” he added.


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