The Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Cross River chapter, on Tuesday held a peaceful protest against the suspension of Justice Walter Onnoghen, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The chapter, which comprises Calabar, Ogoja and Ikom branches, held the protest after an emergency meeting in Calabar.
The lawyers marched from the State High Court along Mary Slessor Avenue to Government House, Calabar, where they presented a letter to the Governor to transmit to President Muhammadu Buhari.
Mr Julius Idiege, the leader of the protest and Vice Chairman, Calabar branch of NBA, said the letter contained a joint resolution by the three branches after their emergency meeting over Onnoghen’s suspension.
Idiege said that the state chapter of the NBA totally rejects Buhari’s suspension of Onnoghen and the appointment of Justice Tanko Mohammed as Acting CJN.
He urged the National Executive Committee of the NBA to take the necessary steps in the defence of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Deputy Governor, Prof. Ivara Esu, who received the letter on behalf of the governor, commended the lawyers for conducting themselves peacefully.
He also promised that the document would be forwarded to the President after the governor had gone through it.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in compliance with the nationwide boycott order issued by the Nigeria Bar Association, activities at the Federal High Court, National Industrial Court and other courts in the state were paralysed.
Even though some administrative staff were in their offices, court sessions did not hold and all court rooms were empty. (NAN)