Lagos — LAWYERS nationwide yesterday shunned court proceedings in total compliance with Nigerian Bar Association's (NBA) call for a two-day boycott of court proceedings to protest government's disregard of court orders.

In Anambra State, however, lawyers not only shunned the courts but took to the streets to show their disdain for government's flouting of court orders.

Speaking to Daily Champion, however, President of NBA., Mr. Lanre Odogiyan, said the association will think of the next line to tow after two days should government fail to comply with its demands.

Daily Champion checks in different parts of the country indicate that lawyers complied fully with the NBA directive with many of them condemning government's disregard for court orders.

Lawyers from the five NBA branches in Anambra State, converged in the state capital, Awka where they marched through the streets before handing over their protest letter to Governor Chris Ngige in the presence of the state's Chief Judge, Justice C. J. Okoli.

Speaking while handing over the protest letter, chairman NBA, Awka branch, Chief Chukwudi Nwankwo regretted the inconveniences the boycott would cause litigants but maintained that NBA would be failing in its duties if it closes its eyes to executive lawlessness.

Responding, Justice Okoli who pledged his support to the protest, however advised the lawyers to appear in their complete regalia on the second day of the protest.

The boycott in Lagos was a success as no sitting was recorded at any court in the state.

When Daily Champion visited the Ikeja High Court, lawyers were seen in groups at the court premises chatting.

Chairman of the Ikeja branch of NBA, Mr. Adekunle Ojo who spoke to Daily Champion said the boycott was observed to drive home lawyer's point that court orders must be obeyed by government at all levels.

According to him, "court of law is the last hope of common man it is supreme and its orders have to be adequately complied with."

He said the action was to protect the rule of law adding that if the step was not taken now, there would be chaos at the end of the day.

In Kano where the boycott was also successful, the state's branch chairman of NBA, Mr. Chris Oshomegie, said the boycott was not targeted at a particular person but "is a protest against a disturbing trend in the country."

He said NBA needed to take the action "to save our society from imminent anarchy" and also preserve the sanctity and integrity of the courts.

In compliance with the boycott directive, lawyers in Akure, Ondo State capital shunned appearances in courts. Consequently, those standing trial who were brought to the court from prison custody were returned to prison yards.

Speaking to Daily Champion, the Akure branch chairman of NBA, Mr. Abayomi Ojo described the action as a welcome development.

According to him, "there must be an end to executive lawlessness. Our government is becoming lawless everyday. The executive arm of government must be told that what it is doing is not good. The government must allow the rule of law and stop disobeying the orders of courts which is very common this day."

In Osun, lawyers complied totally with the boycott directive as there were no lawyers to prosecute or defend suspects brought to courts for trial.

Chairman NBA, Osogbo branch, Mr. Gbadebo Adesina while commenting on the boycott, said it is a starting point and a warning to government that lawyers would no longer tolerate flagrant disobedience of court orders.

Lawyers in Enugu State also stayed away from the courts. Activities were paralysed at all the courts and court workers who reported for duty spent the day whiling away time, waiting for official closing time.

The situation was the same in Ogun and Delta State as there were no activities in courts in both states.

Ogun State NBA chairman, Mr. Bunmi Ogunmodede told Daily Champion in Abeokuta that "our action is a signal to the authorities that they must obey the rule of law or face the consequence."

Meanwhile, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday, re-affirmed its solidarity support for Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) boycott of courts, warning that there could be a total systemic breakdown unless the flouting of judicial pronouncement is put to a stop.

NLC president, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole stated this in a release made available to Daily Champion yesterday evening in Abuja, pointing out it is a "significant intervention at strengthening democracy."

Oshiomhole noted that the objective of the boycott is to protest the disobedience of court orders by the federal and some state governments, adding that the NLC has consistently maintained that the such act seriously imperil democratic consolidation, good governance and political stability.

According to him, the boycott is a challenge for federal, state governments and other institutions to respect the rule of law and obey court orders and that the starting point is to revisit the series of rulings and orders hitherto set aside with impunity by governments at all levels.

"In particular, Mr. President owes the nation the duty to act like a statesman who appreciate the dangers posed by disrespect for court orders by directing immediate compliance with the series of court orders referred to by the NBA and others that had been previously ignored," he added.

In another development, the strike action by lawyers was partially successful in Abuja. At the Supreme Court there was no evidence of a strike as lawyers arrived on time for their cases.

At the Federal High Court only Justice Anwuli Chikere sat. She heard the case filed by the Attorney-General and Minster of Justice, Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN) to stop the strike.

Ojo told the court that the leadership of the NBA lied when it claimed that it was not aware of the suit filed by the Federal Government challenging the power of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the NBA to call out lawyers on strike.

He said, "I personally served the court's papers at NBA's office in Lagos. "They are aware of this case but refused to come to court, they said that they would not appear in court. "I was hoping that they would rise to the challenge by coming to court. They have shown their true colours. "My Lord, I maintain that NEC can not call a strike without referring the matter to the General Council of the Bar."

He withdrew a motion for an interlocutory injunction to stop the strike pending the determination of the case.

He consequently applied for accelerated hearing of the case and also asked for an order of court to serve other papers in the matter on NBA by advertising them in newspapers.

The case was adjourned to April 28 for the determination of the question whether, NEC can call lawyers out on strike without reference to the General Council of the Bar.

Ojo said that he took the issue of disobedience to courts orders very seriously and at every point in time advised government agencies to abide by order of court.

He said, "I will not do anything to desecrate the bar, I will return to private practice when I leave office. "I do not believe people should disobey court orders.

"I will not countenance it. If anybody in government refuses to obey court orders, I will be the first person to make sure that it does not happen. "If I give such advice and the President refuses, I will leave office."

At a bout 11.30 am, just before Justice Chikere started hearing the case filed by AGF, a team of the executive members of the Abuja Branch of NBA came to the court premises to enforce compliance with the directive to boycott courts.

The Chairman of the Abuja branch, Mr. Jude Okeke expressed satisfaction with the compliance with the directive.

He said, "We have been to the Court of Appeal, the Abuja High Court and Magistrate courts, there was full compliance."

He said that disciplinary action would be taken against lawyers who disobey the directive.

When informed that the Supreme Court was sitting, he claimed ignorance and promised to make enquiry.

He also denied knowledge of any pending suit against the association.

He said, "The national body will determine what will happen to those who did not comply."

"We will also take decision on those government's lawyers who appeared before Justice Chikere."

Reported by CHUKWUDI ACHIFE, Enugu, CAJETAN MMUTA, Asaba, ALPHONSUS NWEZE, Onitsha, OLATUBOSUN SOWEMIMO, Lagos ABIODUN FELIX, Osogbo, KOLA ADEPOJU, Abeokuta MUHAMMAD KABIR, Kano, JAMES SOWOLE, Akure, ODOGWU EMEKA Odogwu, Awka and ERASMUS ALANEME, Abuja.