No fewer than twenty lawyers disrupted proceedings at the Imo State High Court in Owerri on Friday due to concerns over structural vibrations in a three-storey building within the court premises.
The building, reportedly constructed during the administration of former Governor Rochas Okorocha, is alleged to have structural defects, causing noticeable vibrations.
The vibrations sparked widespread panic among lawyers, and High Court staff and litigants, prompting a frantic rush for safety.
In the chaos, some workers left their personal belongings behind, fleeing the building in fear of a potential collapse.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Owerri branch, has announced a one-week suspension of court sittings to allow the state government to investigate the matter.
Chris Ihentuge, Chairman of the NBA in Imo State, revealed that the structural defects in the court building have been evident for two weeks, prompting a report to the Chief Registrar, who confirmed the vibration.
Ihentuge stated, “I was informed by another judge this morning (Friday) that a similar incident occurred last Monday while court was in session. Unfortunately, this issue has persisted even before the building’s inauguration. We had raised concerns about the building’s structural defects, but our complaints fell on deaf ears.”
“Two weeks ago, during His Excellency Governor Hope Uzodimma’s media chat, I brought to his attention the deplorable state of this building. The governor acknowledged receiving the complaint and promised to send engineers to conduct an integrity test. However, no action has been taken yet. We cannot continue to jeopardize our lives by attending court in a potentially hazardous building. Therefore, we propose suspending court sittings for one week, pending a thorough assessment and certification of the building’s safety by experts.”
He warned: ‘Let it be on record that the NBA, Owerri Branch, has warned lawyers and litigants that using this building in its current state poses a risk. This is why we’re calling for the appointment of a Chief Judge for the Imo State Judiciary. The absence of a Chief Judge for nearly three months is unacceptable.
“We urge well-meaning Imolites to speak out against this situation; we cannot continue like this. The authorities are aware that it’s detrimental for an arm of government to remain leaderless. This leadership vacuum is the root of our problems, as there’s no one to report our concerns to.”
He also expressed concerns about the lack of visibility in the building. ‘You can’t navigate the staircase without a torchlight. We’ve complained about the need for rechargeable lighting on the staircase. Judges are unable to work and hold sessions due to the lack of electricity, hindering judicial proceedings.”