Yenagoa Branch of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) in Bayelsa on Monday stayed away from courts to demand the release of Justice E.G. Umokoro, kidnapped by unknown gunmen on Saturday evening in Yenagoa.
Umokoro, a Bayelsa State High Court Judge was kidnapped at an eatery in Ekeki area of the state capital by armed gunmen disguised in Police uniforms.
The judge was waiting for his daughter who stepped into the eatery to buy loaves of bread.
Speaking on the development in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Somina Johnbull, Chairman, Yenagoa Branch of NBA condemned the abduction of the judge.
He urged the relevant security agencies to secure the unconditional release of the judge who was a former Chairman of NBA Yenagoa Branch during his days in the bar as a practicing lawyer.
Somina urged the security agencies to deploy all tactics and resources at their disposal to ensure the safe return of the judge.
The NBA chairman said that lawyers in Bayelsa withdrew their services and stayed away from courts across Bayelsa to demand immediate release of the judge.
On the continuation of the courts boycott, he said, they were taking it one day at a time while monitoring the situation.
Lawyers who gathered at the judiciary headquarters discussed the incident in groups while the NBA held consultations with security agencies on the incident.
Recalled that Mr Francis Alonyenu, Commissioner of Police in Bayelsa had on Sunday assured that the Police was working in collaboration with other security agencies to free the abducted Judge unhurt.
The Police chief said they were reviewing video clips of the incident on social media and other footages in line with the directive of Gov Douye Diri to security commanders in Bayelsa to rescue the judge and fish out the masterminds of the dastardly act.
