The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on Monday blocked the entrance of the National Assembly to register their protest against the non-implementation of financial autonomy of the judiciary by the state governments.
The NBA, over the weekend, said it would join the protest march of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) following the refusal of states to obey the financial autonomy law.
The lawyers started the protest from its Head office at Central Area in Abuja and moved to the National Assembly complex but were however prevented from entering the complex.
A police officer, who attended to the group, explained that without a formal notification, they would not be allowed access to the National Assembly, adding that there is also no official on ground to attend to them.
The protesting lawyers led by the First Vice-President of NBA, John Aikpokpo-Martins, however, stood at the entrance of the National Assembly, insisting there would be no entry nor exit until they were allowed in.
According to Aikpokpo-Martins, whatever affects the judiciary also affects lawyers, adding that the lawyers participated in the protest march because it tallies with the NBA motto, which is promoting the rule of law and independence of the Judiciary.
He lamented that the governors have refused despite all entreaties to obey the provisions of the constitution on financial autonomy, adding that all attempt to make them see reasons have failed hence the protest.
While noting that the Federal Government has already complied with the constitutional provisions, the NBA Vice President said that they decided to come to the National Assembly to urge the leadership to prevail on the governors to comply and obey various courts decisions in favour of financial autonomy of the Judiciary.
