As the industrial action reaches its third week Monday, Nigerian lawyers under the auspices of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) are to visit governors across the 36 states of the Federation starting today(Monday) over the issue of the independence of the judiciary in the states. The “visits” are to continue until the governors bow to pressure and grant the independence of the judiciary in their various states.

In the same vein, Judicial workers were also directed by the JUSUN leadership to start protests at the Federal Capital, Abuja and all state capitals across the country today.

According to the directive of the NBA President, Olumide Apata, lawyers at the branch levels are to converge at their bar centers from where they are to march to the governors offices in all the states to visit the governors. The leadership of the association will also visit the National Assembly over the same issue.

NBA branches across the country have started putting up notices over the ” visits” to the governors

The Publicity Secretary of NBA Benin branch, Ogaga Emoghwanre, in press release noted that the lawyers are not embarking on a protest but a visit to the governors.

“Please note that our meeting at the Bar House tomorrow is not a protest. Rather, it is to undertake a visit to the Governor as directed by our amiable President, Mr. Olumide Akpata and for which we are all enjoined to comply with;

This is In the finest and purest traditions of the Bar, and in keeping with the faith of our forebears;

Further Note that, no Lawyer will suffer the consequence of absence from court, as sufficient engagements have been made with the appropriate authorities, which course, as siemese twins we seek to enforce;

Take Notice that any Lawyer found violating this directive will face the consequences of being tagged a black sheep;

A committee is already in place to ensure total compliance

We urge and plead with one and all to comply accordingly in solidarity with our common patrimony“.

Emoghwanre‘s contemporary at Ikeja NBA, Adeyemi Abijo invited all lawyers to an emergency at the bar center on Monday morning.

It stated: “Following the directive of the NBA President, Mr. Olumide Akpata , requesting all branches of the Bar to commence protest in favour of full implementation of financial autonomy of the Judiciary,
NOTICE of Emergency General Meeting(EGM) is hereby given to all members of Ikeja branch as follows:

Date: April 19, 2021.

Venue: The Bar Centre.

Time: 9.00am prompt.

Dress code: Black Suit .

Members are hereby enjoined to converge at the Bar Centre for further deliberations before moving to the Governor’s office”.

Similarly, JUSUN President directed judicial workers to start protests in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja and the capitals of all 36 states of the Federation today.

The directive stated: “Further be informed that following an emergency meeting of the NWC on April 15, 2021, it is agreed that the union will organize a peaceful protest in the Federal Capital which will be replicated in the 36 state capitals in furtherance of our agitations from April 19, 2021”.

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