Lawyers mustn't aid disobedience of court orders, says Oshiomhole

Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has challenged members of the Bar to speak up against disobedience of court orders, saying it portends danger for the rule of law.

Speaking at the opening of the 2014/2015 Legal Year in Benin City on Friday, Oshiomhole said “every lawyer must endeavor to uphold the law and it is dangerous for either the Bar or the Bench to encourage Trade Unions to become the enforcers of court orders.

“Those who live by the court must not be seen to aid and abet disobedience of court orders. If Senior Advocates of Nigeria advice people to disobey court orders, it is a sad thing for the rule of law and if the Bar keeps quite in the face of disobedience of court order, it is a terrible thing for the rule of law.”

It would be recalled that four suspended members of the Edo state House of Assembly, Hon. Festus Ebea (Esan South-East), Hon. Friday Ogieriakhi (Orhionwon-South), Hon. Patrick Osayimwen (Oredo-East) and Hon. Jude Ise-Idehen (Ikpoba Okha)  have continued to flout the Order of a State High Court which barred them from forcibly gaining entrance into the chambers of the State House of Assembly and another Order of the Appeal Court which ordered them to obey the High Court Order before seeking further reliefs at the Appeal Court.

The Governor said: “If court bailiffs are assaulted in  public view, Senior Advocates and other learned members of the community keep quiet, it is not the best for the rule of law because those who may not be affected today may be the people to be affected tomorrow, particularly where the rule of law operates on the basis of precedent.”

He continued: “it can be concluded from the number of cases that the Edo state judiciary were able to hear and dispense justice on and also the number of cases that are pending suggests that the Edo state judiciary has so much work to do. This suggests that both the judiciary, executive and legislative must find resources to create more courts, appoint more judges so that our people can have quicker access to justice.”

Oshiomhole who lauded the Chief Judge of the state, Hon Justice Cromwell Idahosa said, “I want to congratulate you my Lord that under your administration, the Edo state judiciary has never been reported in the negative as you have provided courageous leadership and defended the rights and privileges of the judiciary in the state.

“I believe my Lord that that the challenge of defending democracy necessarily demands that we have not just an independent judiciary but a courageous judiciary with potent teeth to smile and even with potent teeth to bite regardless of those appearing before you.

“When the court is referred to as the last hope of the common man, I submit that all men and women are common before the law. The foundation of fairness demands that we reduce everybody to the same level once they appear before the court of law regardless of age, connection, their vocation and social class”, he said.

The Chief Judge of the state, Hon. Justice Cromwell Idahosa while giving a review of the outgoing year said, “to further strengthen the administration of justice in the lower bench, the Edo state Judicial Service Commission employed the services of more judicial officers including magistrates and area court presidents.”

He added, “a modern High Court in Irrua, fully equipped and furnished by  Esan Central Local Government council is ready for commissioning and a new Magistrate court building in Ubiaja has been completed for the administration of justice in the state.

“Also, the Governor of the state has approved the building of new courts in the part of the High court known as complex ‘B’ which on completion will accommodate 8 new court rooms for the quicker administration of justice.”