- Last week attack on a court session in Yenagoa, disrupting proceedings and by implication the judiciary is curious as the last hope of the common man. World over the judiciary has been the arbiter of justice, so the attack carried out by persons the law is meant to protest calls for concern.
The incident which is considered an affront of the court can be best described as the desecration of the temple of justice making mockery of our judicial system. - Thugs numbering over 30 forced their way into the courtroom and disrupted court proceedings involving hearing on a suit filed by APC faction loyal to Heineken Lokpobiri challenging the conduct of the All Progressives Congress party Congresses that produced the current party executives led by Chief Dennis Otiotio billed for hearing.
- The hoodlums were said to have pelted the Presiding Judge, Justice Naiyi Aganaba with plastic bottles before the security attached to the Judge rescued him while most of the lawyers were chased out and those who came with the claimant were brutalized.
- It was gathered that the hoodlums were angered by the alleged insistence of the judge to hear the suit seeking an order to set aside the disputed APC Congress held last year. The brazen manner these political thugs invaded the court suggests that they are taking orders from an APC chieftain sensing that the hearing might not be in their favour.Â
- Of a truth, the despicable act carried out by the so called renegades is disrespectful and an intimidation on the sanctity of the judicial system and an attempt to stampede the judges into delivering judgements with fear.
As is expected, the action of the political renegades has attracted condemnation. The NBA, the umbrella body of lawyers, outrightly condemned the act of brigandage, describing the violent disruption of court proceedings as provocative and disheartening. -  The Chairman of Yenagoa NBA, Ukumbiriowei Saiyou, and his Sagbama branch counterpart, Ebinyu Aderigha, said it was worrisome to imagine that the perpetrators of the violence could invade and desecrate the sanctity of the court while the court was in session.
“The NBA will not hesitate to commence disciplinary proceedings against such errant member. We, therefore, call on the relevant security agencies particularly the Police to launch an immediate thorough investigation and fish out the perpetrators of this unwarranted invasion, with an intention to make them face the wrath of the law as soon as possible.†- Also condemning the invasion, the APC chairman in the state, Dr Dennis Otiotio-Odoni distanced members of the party from the fracas at the court, alleging that those involved were supporters of an opponent party, adding that the APC was a law-abiding party.
- Another chieftain of the party, Sunday Frank Oputu, condemned the attack, describing it as an open show of disrespect to the symbol of the law.
- It would be recalled that this is not the first time such incidence of court invasion is said to have been perpetrated. Sometimes in 2015, armed thugs led by former governor Seriake Dickson invaded the Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, injuring over seventeen lawyers including a pregnant woman and two Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) during the hearing into the suit between Senator Heineken Lokpobiri and Envagelist Foster Ogola over the choice of candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Bayelsa West Senatorial district of the State.
- The thugs, according to eyewitnesses, mobbed the Honourable Justice I. E. Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Yenagoa, adding that the despicable act clearly showed that the governor was actively involved in the actions.Â
- As much as the news of arrest of two persons in connection with last week invstion of the court is a cheering news, we want to use this medium to call on the Inspector General of Police and the Bayelsa Commissioner of Police to leave no stone unturned by ensuring that not only the culprits are arrested and prosecuted but their sponsors are unraveled and brought to book. Niger Delta Herald while joining well meaning Nigerians in speaking against the shameful act, is of the opinion that the perceived inaction by security agencies in carrying discreet investigation and prosecution of previous court Invaders has unwittingly given impetus for this recent attack.
Furthermore, it is our humble view that the judiciary in collaboration with the security agencies beef up court premises with armed security men to guarantee the safety of judges, litigants and staffers as security is very important in the fulfilment of the roles of the court of law.
Violence and anarchy prevail in the absence of justice. The, if the continuous invasion of our courts is not halted, the obvious is the prevalence.
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