RULAAC expresses concern over continued closure of Court of Appeal Owerri Division 

…Says it’s abdication of judicial duties 

From George Onyejiuwa, Owerri

Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has expressed deep concern over the continued closure of the Court of Appeal  Owerri Division in Imo state based on alleged Security threat.

The civil society Organisation says that the continued closure  of the Court tantamount to abdication of judicial duties as there about 6, 000 depending cases before the court.

In a statement issued on Monday by  Mr. Okechukwu Nwanguma , Executive Director of RULAAC said that they are concerned about the ongoing closure of the Court  of Appeal, Owerri Division since October 2024 over a purported Security threat.

However, He says that it is doubtful if the  the continued closure of the Court of Appeal ,Owerri division by Judicial authorities has anything to do with the purported Security threat as Federal High courts and National Industrial Court of Nigeria in the state are still sitting.

Nwanguma, also called on the Southeast Governors to assert their authority and demonstrate that they are capable of providing firm and responsible leadership, and that they must provide and guarantee a safe environment for judicial and other governmental processes to go on unhindered.

The statement which reads: “RULAAC

has received complaints from judicial stakeholders in Imo State, Southeast Nigeria, concerning the ongoing closure of the Court of Appeal, Owerri Division. This closure, since October 2024, was purportedly based on a bogus threat by a faceless pro-biafra group that  ordered non Igbo judicial officials in the state to leave the state.

We doubt that the closure of the Court of Appeal by the judicial authorities could still be based on this threat, which IPOB quickly disowned and dismissed at the time. In fact, other courts like the  Federal High Court and the National Industrial Court within the same environment as the Appeal Court are still open and sitting.

It is our considered view that if insecurity is the real reason for the continued shut down of the Owerri Division of the Appeal Court, then no courts would be sitting  in the Northeast,  the hotbed of Boko Haram insurgency, or  in a state like Kaduna where insecurity levels continue to escalate. Yet courts are sitting in these crisis-ridden areas.

RULAAC is seriously concerned about the continued closure of the Court of Appeal division in Owerri since October 2024. We note that this raises significant concerns regarding access to justice in the state. With over 6,000 pending cases and an alarming increase of 1,500 new cases each month in the Owerri Division alone, the current legal limbo affects countless litigants who deserve timely adjudication”.

Nwanguma further stated ,  “The apparent withdrawal of the Appeal Court justices from their responsibilities, reportedly due to a threat from a faceless pro-Biafra group, reflects a troubling trend of evading judicial duties rather than confronting security  .

It is noteworthy that courts in the Northeast, where Boko Haram poses a serious threat, continue to operate. This raises questions about the consistency of the response to security threats across different regions and the implications for the rule of law.

RULAAC believes that justice must remain unwavering, even amidst security concerns. It is vital for the judiciary to explore innovative solutions to uphold the rule of law in Nigeria. The sustained closure of these courts impairs the rights of citizens and undermines confidence in the judicial system. The commitment of all stakeholders, including the government, judiciary, and legal practitioners, is essential to restore access to justice in the Southeast region.

We therefore call on Southeast Governors to assert their authority and demonstrate that they are capable of providing firm and responsible leadership. They must provide and guarantee a safe environment for judicial and other governmental processes to go on unhindered.

As already stated, IPOB had disowned the threats by the faceless group. But assuming that the fears are founded, the recommendations by the NBA regarding the utilization of technology come in handy.  Governments should immediately implement virtual hearings to ensure ongoing access to justice while addressing security concerns.

Other options may also be considered, including the establishment of mobile courts or relocation of court sessions to safer venues to continue legal proceedings without interruption.”