Lawyers and judges in Imo State have vacated the Justice Chukwudifu Oputa building of the state high court due to fears of an imminent collapse.
This decision follows alarming reports that during a court session, the building began vibrating, raising fears of a potential collapse.
Speaking at the court premises on Friday, Chris Ihentuge, Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Owerri Branch, revealed reports of the building vibrating during court sessions prompted the decision.
Ihentuge stated that he had informed Governor Hope Uzodimma two weeks earlier about the building’s deteriorating state. The governor reportedly promised to send engineers for an inspection.
Concerns over structural defects were raised during the building’s construction but were never addressed, Ihentuge noted. As a precaution, court sessions are suspended for one week to allow experts to assess the building’s safety.
“We cannot continue to risk our lives. One week will not kill us,” Ihentuge declared.
He also urged the state government to appoint a Chief Judge, lamenting that the position has been vacant for three months.
In another development, thee Chairman of Abia State Independent Electoral Commission, ABSIEC, Prof. George Chima, has been abducted at his residence in Okigwe, Imo State.
According to Vangurard, source said that the gunmen suspected to be kidnappers, numbering four, had stormed the ABSIEC chairman’s residence while he played host to some lecturers from Abia State University, Uturu, and seized him.
The gunmen were alleged to have attempted to take him away in his car, which his driver was washing.
However, the car failed to start despite efforts by the gunmen to drive it.
An eyewitness said the gunmen later snatched an on-passing vehicle carrying logs of wood and fled with the ABSIEC chairman.
The incident is yet to confirmed by the police as of the time of filing this report
