by ‘Jola Sotubo

Lawyers in Edo State have decided not to take the kidnap of one of their colleagues, a judge, lying down.

The members of the Benin chapter of the Nigerian Bar Association have reached a resolution to boycott all courts within the state following the abduction of Daniel Okungbowa, a Benin High Court judge.

Justice Okungbowa was reportedly abducted by armed men on his way to sit at the Ekpoma Division of the Edo State High Court.

Judges in the state have already begun boycotting sitting in protest of the abduction.

Courts to be shunned by the NBA include the Court of Appeal, Benin Division; Federal High Court; all the High Courts within Edo State; Magistrate Courts; Customary Courts and District Customary Courts until Justice Okungbowa is released.

The NBA in a communique issued after an emergency meeting and signed by its chairman, Oriane Akere, called on the state government and security agencies to live up to their responsibilities and take proactive measures to stop the state from degenerating “into the Hobesian state of nature where life was short, nasty and brutish.”

It could not be confirmed whether the kidnappers have demanded any ransom.