Akwa Ibom Lawyers Protest Kidnap Of Judge, Shutdown High Court

The Akwa Ibom State High Court in Oron Local Council Area was shut down on Wednesday following the kidnapping of Justice Joy Unwana and the murder of her police orderly, Inspector ThankGod Edet, by unknown gunmen.

It was reported that Justice Unwana was kidnapped along the Okobo-Esuk Inwang-Ndon Ebom Road. She was abducted alongside her driver, Idorenyin Moses, at about 8 pm on Monday while going home from the court.

The kidnappers have yet to establish contact with her family members or colleagues.

But the Oron branch of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, addressing a press conference outside the court premises on Wednesday, condemned the act and called on the state government as well as security agencies to investigate the matter speedily and ensure that the judge and her driver regain their freedom as soon as possible.

NBA chairman Torosco Eyene, who addressed journalists, expressed worry that the judge was kidnapped after a long and last family court session where she made far-reaching orders in favour of numerous abandoned children.

The NBA members, who displayed placards with inscriptions such as “Security Agencies in Oron are highly compromised,” and “We demand tight and urgent security,” among others, strongly condemned the kidnapping of Justice Unwana and the assassination of her police orderly.

They called on the executive and legislative arms of the Akwa Ibom State government to, as a matter of deliberate policy, provide adequate facilities for judicial autonomy as provided in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.

They also observed that the Okobo Esuk Inwang-Ndon Ebom Road, where the judge was kidnapped, has become a blackspot for criminal activities because of its long-winding bends and lack of street lights.

They therefore urged the state government to look into the area to complete the diverted Uyo-Oron Federal Highway, which passes through Nsit Atai-Okobo to Oron Town.

The NBA members also called on the executive and the legislature to critically review the welfare, safety, and conditions of service of judicial officers and staff, including building staff quarters so that judges and judicial personnel could live and work within their jurisdictions.