“No Ransom Demand Yet”—Concern Grows As NBA Yenagoa Declares Court Boycott Over Kidnapped Judge, Says “Judiciary Under Siege”

The Nigerian Bar Association Yenagoa branch has announced a boycott of all court activities following the weekend kidnapping of Justice Ebiyerin Omukoro of the Bayelsa State High Court, describing the incident as a direct assault on Nigeria’s judiciary.
In a protest letter issued Monday, NBA Yenagoa Chairman Somina Johnbull declared the boycott as “a solemn but powerful demonstration of solidarity with the abducted judge,” emphasizing the gravity of attacks on judicial officers.
“This is not merely an attack on Justice Omukoro as an individual. It is an attack on the entire justice system and the independence of the judiciary,” Johnbull stated, highlighting concerns about rising insecurity targeting the judiciary.
Justice Omukoro was abducted Saturday evening by masked gunmen at Kilimanjaro Eatery, located opposite Ekeki Park in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital. The high court judge was seized in broad daylight, sending shockwaves through the legal community.
As of Monday, the kidnappers have not contacted the judge’s family or relatives, leaving authorities and loved ones without communication from the abductors regarding ransom demands or the judge’s condition.
The NBA chairman urged security agencies nationwide to intensify rescue efforts for the missing jurist, expressing frustration over the vulnerability of judicial officers to criminal attacks.
Johnbull revealed that while association members had initially planned street protests against security agencies including the Department of State Services, they opted instead for the court boycott and press conference approach.
The incident reflects growing concerns about the safety of judicial officers across Nigeria, with the NBA expressing alarm over what it termed “the rising trend of insecurity, especially targeted attacks on judicial officers.”
The boycott effectively suspends court activities in Yenagoa, affecting ongoing cases and legal proceedings as lawyers demonstrate their commitment to judicial security and the rule of law.
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