Lawyers in Imo State have suspended judicial activities for one week following an alleged shaking of one of the Federal High Court buildings suspected to have been caused by what they termed structural defects in one of the buildings.
To secure their lives, the lawyers were seen scared of entering into the said building which is said to be one of the tallest buildings there.
Obviously, the new Federal High Court buildings were built during the Rescue Mission administration championed by Senator Rochas Okorocha, a judiciary buildings he termed as befitting.
Speaking to journalists in front of the defecting judiciary building at the Federal High Court Owerri on Friday, Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)
Barr. Chris Ihentuge, Imo State, announced that they had suspended judiciary activities for one week in the said building until the proper thing is done, saying being in the collapsing building in the name of going to court poses danger, as they cannot afford risking or losing their lives in a suicidal manner.
The NBA Chairman who complained that the said building was having structural defects prior to occupation, regretted that the state government which promised to bring an expert to conduct integrity test on the said building with a view to fixing it, shied away from its promise as nothing was done in that regard.
He said, to stay safe, the NBA, Owerri branch, has warned lawyers and litigants, that it is risky using the shaking judiciary building, which he lamented has been very unseeming.
The lawyers therefore called on government and other well-meaning members of the society to quickly intervene as to save lives and improve the judiciary for the good of humanity and the advancement of the society.
According to Ihentuge, "I was reliably informed that as at yesterday (on Thursday) while one of the courts was on, one of the buildings was vibrating. I have made calls to the Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court who confirmed that The Lord, Onyeukwu, had informed her of the incident. I also heard from another Judge that the building was terribly shaking two days ago while the court was sitting".
He stressed that "the issue has been lingering even before this building was put to use. There were a lot of complaints about the structural defects in the building and we complained and nothing happened".
"As at last 2 weeks when the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, had a media chat", Ihentuge added, "I informed the Governor that this building is in bad shape. The Governor confirmed he had received that complaint and that he will do integrity test on the building and up till today nothing has happened".
"We cannot risk our lives in the name of going to court. So, we are saying for now, we suspend, for one week, the use of this building, until the proper thing is done, which is, let experts come and certify the integrity test - that this building is fit.
"NBA, Owerri branch, has warned lawyers and litigants that it is risky using this building as it is now. That is why we are complaining that a Chief Judge should be appointed for Imo State Judiciary. A situation that, where we do not have a Chief Judge going to 3 months, is not acceptable. Because we cannot remain like this without a leader", he maintained.
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