The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Anambra State chapter, has condemned the brutal killing of one of its members, Ifeanyi-Rolex Iloakasia, and has announced a boycott of all court sittings in the state from May 20 to May 21 in protest.
Mr. Iloakasia, a member of the Otuocha branch of the NBA, was killed along with his client on May 15 in Nanka, Orumba North Local Government Area.
The incident occurred as they were returning from a court session at the Ekwulobia High Court.
In a statement signed by K.G. Abonyi, Chairman of the Committee of Chairmen and Secretaries of NBA branches in Anambra State, the association described the attack as a direct affront to the legal profession and the rule of law.
“The NBA in Anambra State is deeply grieved and outraged by this senseless act,” the statement read, noting that the memory of a similar tragedy—the killing of Awa P. Awa, a former vice chairman of the NBA Ihiala Branch—remains fresh.
In response, the committee has directed all lawyers in the state to refrain from attending court proceedings for two days as a mark of protest and solidarity.
The NBA called for a thorough investigation, insisting that those responsible must be brought to justice.
It acknowledged the prompt response of the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, who visited the crime scene and initiated preliminary investigations.
However, it urged law enforcement agencies, including the Department of State Services (DSS), to intensify efforts to apprehend the perpetrators swiftly.
“Too many lawyers have fallen victim to the insecurity plaguing this state.
The legal profession cannot survive in an environment of fear and violence,” the statement said.
The association also appealed to Governor Chukwuma Soludo to prioritize and strengthen security across the state to prevent further tragedies.