The Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Yenagoa Branch on Monday stayed away from courts to demand the release of Justice E.G. Umokoro kidnapped by unknown gunmen on Saturday evening in Yenagoa.
Justice Umokoro, who is 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.
Chairman, Yenagoa Branch of the NBA, Mr. Somina Johnbull, who condemned the abduction of the judge, 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.
He urged the security agencies to deploy all tactics and resources at their disposal to ensure the safe return of the judge.
Somina said that lawyers in Bayelsa State withdrew their services and stayed away from courts across the state to demand for the immediate release of the judge.
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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.
It would be recalled that the commissioner of police in Bayelsa State 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 Governor Douye Diri to security commanders to rescue the judge and fish out the masterminds of the dastardly act.