From Ovat Mike, Onitsha
Members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Anambra State branch, on Monday blocked the entrance to the state’s Government House over lingering strike of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria.
News Echo gathered that JUSUN about a month ago declared an indefinite nationwide strike to press home their demand for financial autonomy of the judiciary.
The Anambra lawyers blocked the government house entrance, stopping exit and entry to the place for hours.
Some of their placards read, “Gov Obiano please implement the constitutional provisions on financial autonomy and independence of the Judiciary”, “Anambra state branches of NBA demand financial autonomy and independence of the Judiciary”.
Speaking, their leader, Kingsley Awuka said they were at the Government House to submit a letter from the NBA national office, about the JUSUN strike and financial autonomy for the Judiciary.
He said, “We’re here because of the silence the governor gave to our press statement where we appealed to him to consider the peculiar situation of the state and that his All Progressives Grand Alliance -led government is a product of judicial independence and bravery.
“We feel saddened that the government of this party which supposed to do everything to ensure that the judicial arm of government is strengthened beyond what’s obtainable in other states is doing nothing in that regard. “If the judiciary yielded to execute subjection during that time, the mandate given to APGA would have been stolen till date.
“Go round our court rooms, they’re in a mess, judges sit without their robes, lawyers sit without properly dressed because of the uncondusive environment. Magistrates take turns to officiate for lack of infrastructure.
“Election is around the corner and other matters that would require judicial interventions will soon come up. We wonder where people will go when the time comes. “For the past one month our courts have been under lock, the insecurity in the state has heightened. If any of the suspects are arrested, where will they be taken and tried? The judicial branch of government is dead. “We are here to appeal to our consciences.
It’s not about the NBA or lawyers. It’s about the common man, everybody, including the governor himself. “He has the capacity and doesn’t need to wait for the Nigeria Governors Forum to take action because when we were electing him, we didn’t look at others, but elected him on his own merit.”
Responding, Secretary to the State Government, Prof Solo Chukwulobelu commended the lawyers for their peaceful conduct, assuring them of speedy delivery and intervention of the governor to their letter. The SSG said, “We’re working out an arrangement with the Judiciary on the financial autonomy based on available resources. But that of judicial independence is a national issue and not state-driven.”