On January 23, 2025, courts in the Mgbidi, Oguta, and Omumma regions of Imo State have suspended operations in response to the shocking murder of a prominent lawyer, Chinedu Nwowu.
Nwowu was ambushed and fatally shot on Wednesday evening while traveling in his hometown of Mgbidi by unidentified assailants. This heinous act has ignited fear and concern throughout the state, with the motive still unknown.
In solidarity, the Orlu Branch of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) has declared a strike, halting all court proceedings in the affected areas. An emergency meeting for NBA members is set to take place at the High Court in Mgbidi, with the following announcement shared by Chukwuemeka Okoro:
Following the gruesome murder of our colleague, Chinedu Nwowu, all lawyers of the Oru/Oguta Forum are invited to an emergency meeting today at 10 AM at the Mgbidi High Court. Please be punctual.
The Chairman of the NBA Orlu Branch, Ben Amukamara, reiterated that there will be no court sessions in Oguta, Mgbidi, and Omumma until further notice.
As of now, the state police spokesperson, Henry Okoye, has not provided any updates regarding the investigation into Nwowu’s tragic death.