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All persons charged
with kidnapping and armed robbery in Edo State will hence forth, face
trial in the court without legal representation.

This is because the
state chapter of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has decided to
withhold all appearances for such persons till further notice. This
decision was reached at the monthly general meeting of the association
in Benin City.

The lawyers, in a
statement signed by Ede Asenoguan, Secretary of the state branch of the
bar association, said this was because “legal practitioners and
judicial officers are now being targeted by kidnappers.” The lawyers
made reference to the recent kidnapping of the Chief Registrar,
Customary Court of Appeal of Edo State, Agnes Aigbaogu and Aliu
Okunega, a retired high court judge, who were both kidnapped in Benin
City recently.

Medical doctors in the state have also in the past, withdrawn services to protest the kidnap of one of their colleague.

But the bar
association said it has decided to write letters to the state
Commissioner of Police, the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner
for Justice and the Director of Public Prosecution that cases involving
kidnappers and armed robbers be treated with dispatch and advice given
promptly.

Provide security

The bar association established a committee mandated to work with the police.

“The Bar hereby
call on the government of Edo State to beef up security in Edo state
with a view to safeguarding lives and properties in Edo State,” the
association said.