Lawyers to boycott courts over colleague’s arrest in Makurdi

Members of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Makurdi Branch have resolved to boycott appearances in courts until one of their members, Barr. Terna Jirgba, who was arrested or abducted by heavily armed gunmen, is released from detention.

The NBA, Makurdi Branch expressed the worries that more than forty-eight hours after the whisking away of their member by unknown gunmen believed to be security agents, no security agency has launched an investigation to the matter, even though reports have been made to them.

A statement signed by the branch chairman, Barr. Emmanuel Agbakor in Makurdi, a copy of which was made available to The Nation explained that Barr. Jirgba, as he is known by members of NBA, is a private legal practitioner in the law office of Iorwase Ahile & Co, Old Oturkpo Road, Makurdi and is a committed member of the association and was not known to have any personal disagreement with anybody.

The statement therefore condemned the unlawful arrest or abduction of Barr. Jirgba and notified Mr. President and the entirety of the Nigerian Bar of the unfortunate incident, for urgent necessary action to rescue him unhurt.

According to Agbakor, the NBA Branch has made formal reports to the Benue State Governor; the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone  4, Makurdi; the Commandant, 72 Airborne Battalion, Makurdi; the Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command; Director, State Security Service, Makurdi; the Commandant, Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, as well as the Security Adviser to the Governor, with a view to establishing the where about  of their colleague – since all security agencies have denied knowledge of his arrest or abduction.

It will be recalled that heavily armed security men on the 8th August, 2016 invaded the residence of Jirgba located on Badagry Street, High Level Makurdi in six Toyota Hilux Trucks and arrested Barr. Jirgba, who is the legal counsel to the wanted militant, Terwase Akwaza alias ‘Ghana’ and two of his relations to an unknown destination.