By Simon Ebegbulem
BENIN—THE Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Edo state, has condemned the closure of the High Court and Customary Court of Appeal in the state for three days due to the retreat held by Judges in the state without notice to the NBA in the state.

NBA in a resolution signed by the state Secretary, Ede Asenoguan, pointed out that the non-sitting of the High Courts and Customary Court of Appeal in the state from 3rd to 5th November, 2010, adversely affected the administration of justice in the state, lamenting that “no judge was left behind to attend to urgent cases within the period.”

It was learnt that the Judges were in Calabar for a three-day retreat during the period. However, Vanguard learnt that the NBA was not happy that they were not duely informed before the judges proceeded on the retreat so as to know how to schedule their programmes.

The Association lamented that during the period, some of their clients who came from different parts of the state and country were in court for various cases but had to go back to their bases when it was discovered that the Judges were not on seat.

The resolution therefore called on all those concerned with the administration of justice in the state to “always give prior notice of events that would disrupt court sittings to the Bar to enable lawyers and litigants reorder their itineries.”