Happening Now: Lawyers in Nsukka and Obollo-Afor, Enugu State, are staging protests due to the prolonged refusal of judges to resume physical court proceedings.
LAWYERS PROTEST IN NSUKKA, OBOLLO-AFOR OVER JUDGES’ REFUSAL TO RESUME PHYSICAL COURT SITTINGS
Lawyers in Nsukka and Obollo-Afor, Enugu State, on staged protests over the prolonged refusal of judges to resume physical court sittings, grounding judicial activities in the two judicial divisions.[Tuesday]
The aggrieved lawyers converged at the premises of the High Courts in Nsukka and Obollo-Afor carrying placards with inscriptions such as _“Justice Delayed Is Justice Denied”_, _“Open Our Courts Now”_, and _“Litigants Are Suffering”_.
The protesters accused the judges of keeping courts shut to physical proceedings for an extended period, forcing lawyers and litigants to rely solely on virtual hearings that many say are ineffective for proper administration of justice.
“Cases have been stalled for months. Our clients cannot get justice, witnesses cannot testify properly, and the wheels of justice have been grounded,” one of the protesting lawyers said.
The lawyers are demanding the immediate resumption of physical court sittings, arguing that virtual proceedings alone cannot address the backlog of cases and the needs of litigants in the area.
Court activities were disrupted in both Nsukka and Obollo-Afor as courtrooms remained empty and litigants were turned back. The protest has heightened concerns over delays in the justice system in Enugu North Senatorial District.
As of press time, there was no official response from the Enugu State Judiciary or the Chief Judge’s office regarding the lawyers’ demands.
The protest adds to growing complaints by the Nigerian Bar Association across states over disruptions to court operations and their impact on access to justice.
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