The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) condemns the killing of Nnaemeka Ugboma, the Chairman of Ejemekwuru Customary Court in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State. Mr. Ugboma was murdered yesterday afternoon by yet to be identified assailants in the premises of Ejemekwuru Customary Court in cold blood and in full glare of other court users. According to eyewitness’s account, Mr. Ugboma had just finished conducting proceedings when his murderers came in their numbers, collected the phones of everyone present, rounded up Mr. Ugboma and shot him in the head.

The NBA notes with dismay that the cruel murder of Nnaemeka Ugboma is the latest in a series of deadly attacks on innocent persons including legal practitioners and judges in what has become a disturbing norm in Imo State. The NBA therefore calls on the Government of Imo State to be more deliberate about the security of lives and properties in the state and to particularly beef up security in and around all the court buildings in the State.

The NBA is committed to getting to the root of the murder of Mr. Ugboma and shall ensure that the culprits are quickly brought to book. In this regard, the NBA President, Mr. Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, OON, SAN has directed the branches in Imo State to engage the Commissioner of Police, Imo State and other security agencies over this unfortunate incident. The NBA has also approved that the branches take every lawful steps to call the attention of the State Government to this attack on innocent citizens including members of legal profession in the State.

The NBA President condoles with the Imo State Judiciary and the family of Mr. Nnaemeka Ugboma over this unfortunate incident.

Akorede Habeeb Lawal
National Publicity Secretary, NBA