Onnoghen: Lawyers boycott courts in Benue

Lawyers in Benue State on Tuesday complied with the boycott
directive from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) as they stayed
away from court proceedings over the suspension of the embattled
Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen.

Our correspondent reports that the lawyers under the NBA in
Otukpo and Makurdi respectively avoided court activities, leaving
only handful management staff with public counsels rescheduling new
dates for cases at the Makurdi High Court 1.

The Makurdi branch NBA chairman, Barrister Caleb Ishember, told
newsmen in Makurdi that there was 80 percent compliance.

“In Makurdi branch, we can say that we complied 80 percent even
though we know that few Justices and some management staff sat but
we still complied and we are willing to comply tomorrow too.

“My view cannot be different from the one taken by my
organization that is, NBA. Therefore, if the CJN is to be removed,
it doesn’t lie on the mouth of the President. The President cannot
just sit down and remove the Chief Justice of the Federation. It’s
not as simple as that.

“Procedures must be followed inasmuch as you are fighting
corruption. You cannot fight corruption illegally. The corruption
must be fought with due process and anything short of that, is an
infraction of Constitutional rights, not just the person but on the
entire judiciary, NBA and before they know it, it would become an
attack on the common man. This is because the lawyers are the
mouthpiece of the common,” he said.

Similarly, a member of the NBA, Otukpo branch, Barrister George
Abah, told our correspondent by telephone that there was total
compliance in the area with the directive to boycott the
courts.

Abah said, “we stayed away from the courts today.”

NDA to Establish Driving School for Cadets

The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), has disclosed it is
formalizing plans to establish a driving school in Kaduna. This was
revealed by the Commandant NDA, Major General A Oyebade, during a
courtesy visit by Zonal Commanding Officer, Federal Road Safety
Corps, Kaduna Zone, Assistant Corps Mashal Ayobami Omiyale in
Afaka.

General Oyebade said the driving school will be primarily to
train cadets in the rudiments, theory and practical knowledge of
driving.

The Commandant, who commended FRSC for the tremendous impact it
has made in forestalling safety of lives and property on our roads,
also praised the partnership between the two institutions.

Earlier, the Zonal Commanding Officer while stating his purpose
of visit said he came to pay homage to the commandant and to
appreciate the synergy between FRSC and NDA. He applauded the
Commandant for instilling discipline and learning in the cadets
urging him to maintain the high standard NDA is known for.

Abubakar Abdullahi

Major

Academy Public Relations Officer