Group protests in Abia, calls for change of Appeal Court Judges in Owerri

By Anayo Okoli

UMUAHIA—A group, Catholic Network of Nigeria [CNN] staged a protest weekend in Bende, Bende Local Government Area of Abia State, calling for the change of the Justices of the Court of Appeal Owerri, Imo State.

According to the group which is sympathetic to the opposition All Progressive Grand Alliance [APGA], it has no confidence in  Owerri Apeal Court Judges.

The placards-carrying group comprising mainly of youths and women, alleged that some Judges at the Owerri Appeal Court  are very close to the tribunal Judges that handled cases in Abia tribunals and therefore have no confidence that they would conscientiously review the cases from Abia.

Displaying placards with inscriptions, “Catholics are against injustice, the Court is our hope, all we are saying is give us justice, Abia State must be free, Change the Appeal Court Judges for us, we voted for change, we want our votes to count, we want our mandate”, among others, the group said that the protest was being held simultaneously in the three senatorial zones of the state.

According to the coordinator of the group, Catechist Ambrose Udensi, they have already written to the President of Court of Appeal, the Chief Justice of Nigeria and National Judicial Council [NJC] as well on the issue, urging that the Justices at the Owerri Court of Appeal be redeployed “because the people of Abia do not have confidence and trust in them”.