KEY POINTS

• The Owerri Court of Appeal closure receives strong condemnation from RULAAC.
• Over 6,000 pending cases have accumulated due to the shutdown which stranded everyone participating in those suits.
• The judicial leadership from Southeast states ought to secure the premises and resume court operations.

RULAAC has declared its severe disapproval regarding the prolonged Owerri Division Court of Appeal shutdown in Imo State which started in October 2024.

The executive director Okechukwu Nwanguma explained that the court closure started when unknown pro-Biafra members forced all non-Igbo judicial officials to depart from Imo State through alleged threats.

The Indigenous People of Biafra chose to separate itself from the threat even though judicial institutions continue to keep the court in Owerri Division shut for more than four months.

RULAAC demands explanations regarding the continued suspension of Appeal Court operations although both High Court and National Industrial Court continue with their judicial tasks from the same premises.

The advocacy group demonstrated that courts located in the volatile areas where Boko Haram operates and parts of Kaduna State maintain operational status during security disturbances.

Litigants face prolonged uncertainty

The shutdown of the Appeal Court generated a continuous mounting backlog due to its pending 6,000 cases and 1,500 monthly new submissions.

The prolonged court closure according to RULAAC prevents many citizens from having justice and weakens general public faith in the institution.

Nwanguma declared that the judiciary should resist yielding to fears because of security threats. Injustice cannot remain captive to feelings of terror. The government and judiciary need to undertake actions which rebuild trust in the legal system among the public.

NBA and governors urged to intervene

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) expressed security-related judicial operational challenges in Southeast Nigeria during its December 2024 meeting.

The NBA president believed virtual hearings together with session relocation would provide solutions for keeping legal proceedings active.

RULAAC demands Southeast governors to take effective measures that will guarantee judicial official security and court reopening.

The organisation advised the judiciary to use modern technology alongside mobile courts and adaptive methods that would help prevent future delays in court proceedings.

The deliberation process by judicial authorities creates uncertainty about justice delivery timelines for lawyers and people involved in legal matters in the Southeastern region.