THE Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Yenagoa Branch, on Monday, embarked on a symbolic court boycott across Bayelsa State to protest the abduction of Justice Ebiyerin Omukoro, a serving judge of the Bayelsa State High Court.
The association described the action as a “solemn yet powerful demonstration of solidarity with the abducted jurist” and a clarion call on security agencies to intensify efforts towards securing his safe and immediate release.
Justice Omukoro was kidnapped on Saturday evening, 21st June 2025, by masked gunmen at Kilimanjaro Eatery, located opposite the bustling Ekeki Park in Yenagoa.
He had reportedly just returned from an engagement in Warri, Delta State, when the attackers struck and whisked him away to an unknown destination. His whereabouts remain unknown as of the time of this report.
In a statement signed by the NBA Yenagoa Branch Chairman, Barr. Somina Johnbull, the association condemned the incident as a direct assault on the judiciary and a grave threat to the rule of law.
“This is not merely an attack on Justice Omukoro as an individual. It is an attack on the entire justice system and the independence of the judiciary. We are deeply concerned about the rising trend of insecurity, especially targeted attacks on judicial officers,” the statement read.
Though an earlier plan involved a protest march to security agencies, the association resolved instead to hold a solemn court closure and a press briefing, choosing to keep the spotlight firmly on the judge’s safe return and avoid distractions from the core objective.
On Monday morning, lawyers across the state refrained from appearing in court, while those in Yenagoa converged on the High Court Headquarters, robed in full regulation attire, including collars and bibs, in a unified show of resistance.
According to the association, protest letters were to be formally submitted to the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police and the State Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), calling for urgent and decisive action in the case.
Johnbull clarified that the boycott was not a punitive measure but a professional duty.
“Our action today is not intended to disrupt the legal process but to defend its sanctity. The judiciary must be protected. Judges must be able to perform their constitutional duties without fear of abduction or harm,” he said.
The NBA further assured that it would continue to monitor the situation closely and take all lawful steps necessary until Justice Omukoro is safely reunited with his family and resumes his judicial functions.
