Ebonyi Lawyers Suspend 10-Day Court Boycott

The Ebonyi chapter of the Law Officers Association of Nigeria has suspended its court boycott, following the Nigeria Bar Association’s (NBA) intervention.

According to report, the group embarked on an indefinite boycott of all government cases in court on March 8, 2021, as they were protesting against what they described as “negligence on welfare” of members by the state government.

The Chairman of the association, Mr Ndubuisi Ogbuinya, told the press on Thursday in Abakaliki that members decided to return to the bar after their meeting with the state NBA on Wednesday.

Ogbuinya said: “Following the meeting we had with the stakeholders, the elders of the bar pleaded with us to suspend the boycott to enable NBA mediate and resolve the matter.

“We boycotted the court activities to draw the government’s attention to the issue of our well-being.

“We want the government to address issues bordering on poor remuneration, non-funding of government cases, and government refusal to accommodate us in the payment of the minimum wage.

“We are appealing to the government to look into the welfare of law officers in the state, that’s all.”

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The state Chairman of NBA, Mr. Ogbonnaya Okorie, described the suspension of the boycott as a welcome development and urged the lawyers to embrace dialogue.

“We are happy they have returned to work because, since the court boycott, no one was finding it easy.

“Their absence in court affected even the common man in society. It has affected litigants, defendants and individuals but thank God they are back.

“Yes, they have the right to protest but there is a need for peace between workers and the government.

Okorie added that in every circumstance, there must be dialogue and added that the NBA is ready to push on their behalf and ensure that their welfare is addressed.