The Orlu Branch of the Nigeria Bar Association on Thursday boycotted court sitting in protest of the murder of their colleague, Chinedu Nwowu.
Mr Nwosu was murdered on Wednesday by gunmen who reportedly ambushed and killed him in Mgbidi, his hometown.
A source close to his friends said “some gun-bearing men forcefully blocked the victim while driving and shot him dead.”
The development has sparked widespread panic across the state, as authorities have yet to establish the motive for the lawyer’s murder, leaving many in a state of uncertainty and fear.
Rising from an emergency meeting convened in response of Nwosu’s murder by the branch, Mr. Chukwuemeka Okoro in a memo on behalf of the branch, notified the High Court in Mgbidi that its members were boycotting sitting over the development.
The memo said : “Following the gruesome murder of one of us, CHINEDU NWOWU last night in his town, Mgbidi, all lawyers of Oru/Oguta Forum are hereby notified of a crucial emergency meeting this morning by 10am at the High Court, Mgbidi.
“The Mgbidi, Oguta and Omumma High Courts will not sit today. Please, be punctual.”
The NBA chairman of Orlu Branch, Ben Amukamara, further stated that the members were meeting at the Mgbidi High Court following the killing of the lawyer.
He said court would not hold in Oguta, Mgbidi and Omumma following the murder.
According to him, the temporary shutdown was a mark of respect and protest against the killing of the legal practitioner.
As at the time of filing this report, the police in Imo have not issued official statement on the matter.
