Lawyers from the Nsukka and Obollo-Afor areas of Enugu State took decisive action on Tuesday, June 16, by sealing the high court in Obollo-Afor. This protest stemmed from the persistent failure of judges posted to these areas to conduct physical court proceedings for several years.
Background of the Protest
According to reports, judges assigned to the Enugu North senatorial district had resorted to virtual court proceedings due to the heightened level of insecurity in the region. This shift to online hearings left many lawyers disgruntled, as they felt it compromised the integrity and accessibility of the judicial process.
Previous Demonstrations
Earlier, on June 3, lawyers in the district had marched through major streets in Nsukka to protest what they described as the abandonment of courtrooms following the introduction of virtual proceedings. The protests affected all five judicial divisions in the zone: Nsukka, Obollo-Afor, Enugu-Ezike, Ogbede, and Umulokpa.
Escalation of Action
On Tuesday, the lawyers escalated their protest by closing the high court in Obollo-Afor to press home their demands for a return to physical court sittings. They argued that the absence of judges from the courtroom hindered effective legal representation and access to justice.
The lawyers maintain that while virtual proceedings may have been necessary due to security concerns, the prolonged reliance on them has created significant challenges for legal practitioners and litigants alike. They are calling on the relevant authorities to address the security situation and ensure that judges resume physical sittings in the affected divisions.
