Imo Lawyers Boycott Courts To Protest Colleague’s Murder
Lawyers in Imo State have boycotted all court proceedings in the Mgbidi, Oguta, and Omuma areas following the tragic murder of a fellow legal practitioner, Chinedu George Nwowu. The Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Orlu Branch, directed the closure of courts in these areas on Thursday to honor their slain colleague and express their outrage.
Nwowu was brutally killed on Wednesday evening along the Mgbidi Highway by unidentified gunmen. Reports indicate that the attackers intercepted his vehicle, dragged him out, and shot him multiple times before fleeing the scene.
In response, the NBA Orlu Branch issued a memo announcing an emergency meeting to address the incident. Signed by Chukwuemeka Okoro, the statement directed all lawyers within the Oru/Oguta Forum to convene at the High Court premises in Mgbidi at 10 a.m. on Thursday.
The memo stated, “Following the gruesome murder of one of us, Chinedu Nwowu, last night in his town, Mgbidi, all lawyers of the Oru/Oguta Forum are hereby notified of a crucial emergency meeting this morning by 10 a.m. at the High Court, Mgbidi. The Mgbidi, Oguta, and Omuma High Courts will not sit today. Please, be punctual.”
Confirming the court boycott, the NBA chairman, Ben Amukamara, disclosed that the meeting was convened to deliberate on the killing and chart a course of action.
Eyewitnesses recounted the chilling events leading to Nwowu’s death. One source described how the gunmen overtook Nwowu’s vehicle and forced him to stop. “They dragged him out of the car and shot him several times. It all happened in less than five minutes, leaving no time for anyone to intervene or alert security operatives,” the source explained. Efforts to save Nwowu proved futile as he was pronounced dead upon arrival at a nearby hospital.
The Imo State Police Command has confirmed the incident and launched an investigation into the murder. The state’s police spokesperson, Henry Okoye, assured the public that the perpetrators would be apprehended.
“The police are deeply pained by this incident, but we will not rest until we bring those responsible to justice. An investigation is already underway, and we are determined to ensure the culprits are caught,” Okoye stated.
The legal community and residents have expressed concerns over the rising insecurity in the state, calling for urgent measures to safeguard lives and restore public confidence in the region’s security apparatus.
