Members of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Owerri branch have resolved to suspend court sittings for one week over fear that the Owerri High Court building might collapse any moment.
The chairman of NBA Owerri branch, Barr Chris Ihentuge, who made public the resolution of the house, lamented that there had been complaints that the is building vibrating.
He said the issue has been reported to the appropriate quarters without anything done to correct the structural defect.
He further said, “I was reliably informed by the Chief Registrar that while one of the courts was sitting yesterday the high court building was vibrating. This was also confirmed by the Honourabke Milor,d Onyeukwu
“I also heard this morning from another lawyer that two days ago, while the court was sitting the building was vibrating.Two weeks ago, when the governor had media chat, I reported the matter to him and he said he had had the same complaint and promised to send engineers to the place for integrity test, yet nothing has happened up till this moment. And this issue has been lingering, even before the building was put into use and nothing happened.
“We have therefore resolved to suspend sittings for one week to allow structural engineers to come and carry out an Integrity test on the building
“Within this period , no activities will take place there until the Integrity test is done. Lawyers and litigants are advised to stay away from the court because we cannot risk our lives in the name of going to court.This is the position of the Bar.”
Ihentige also complained that apart from the building vibrating from time to time, there are no lights in the staircase.
He also said there are no fans in the building for ventilation, noting that lawyers have to remove their gowns during sittings and from time to time court sittings are halted or adjourned to later dates.
It would be recalledl that the High Court building was constructed during the administration of Governor Rochas Okorocha and ever since, lawyers have expressed fears over their safety in the building.