But the state government told The PUNCH that it is doing everything possible to ensure the safety of lives and property in the state.
While raising concerns, the NBA cited the fire incident at the Owerri Magistrate Court, reportedly caused by arsonists; attacks on the High Court of Imo State, Orlu; a fire incident at the Bailiffs’ Section of the Magistrates Court in Owerri; and the burning of the Customary Court in Orlu by hoodlums.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Akorede Lawal, the NBA also lamented the recent attacks on legal practitioners.
“There is no gainsaying the fact that these attacks on the courts have affected the confidence of the residents in the government, particularly its judicial arm; for if the courts which are Houses of Justice are not safe, no citizen will consider his or her life and properties to be safe.
“Equally, these attacks will cause unimaginable and inordinate delays in the administration of justice and impact negatively the livelihoods of our members in Imo State, many of whom are litigators,” the NBA said.
The association then urged the state government to provide security for court premises, stressing that judicial officers also needed protection.
“While the NBA leadership is in touch with our local branches in Imo State to ensure that the culprits are found and made to face the full weight of the law, the NBA also calls on the Government of Imo State to deliberately and urgently beef up security in and around all the courts’ premises in the state.
“Asides from the fact that judicial officers must be protected to perform their constitutional duties in a safe atmosphere, the courts in which they sit also house sensitive documents and people’s properties, as such, the courts deserve the maximum security.
“Citizens are also urged to be vigilant and observant to ensure that no one, for selfish interests, makes a mess of what is important to us all,” the statement added.
Speaking with our correspondent on Tuesday, the Imo State Commissioner for Information, Declan Emelumba, said relative peace had returned, just as he revealed that the state had been urging legal practitioners to return to courts.
He said, “The state government is doing everything to protect lives and property all over the state, not just courts. Even NBA itself will agree that relative peace has returned.
“Last week, the government was urging them to return to courts because we noticed that magistrate’s courts were not holding on Mondays which means they were afraid of sit-at-home. The government was urging them to go to court because adequate security had been provided.
“Even without what they are saying, the government is conscious of its responsibility to provide adequate security for lives and property and is doing everything within its power to protect indigenes and residents in the state.
“The situation is not getting worse but better and that is the truth.”
