By Omotola Adekonye 

The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has expressed concerns over the prolonged shutdown of the Court of Appeal,  Owerri  division ,Imo State, saying it has severe implications for access to justice in the state. 

It has therefore called on government  to implement virtual hearings to ensure access to justice while addressing security concerns in the state.

With a staggering 6,000 pending cases and a monthly influx of 1,500 new cases in the Owerri Division alone, the civil society organization said the continued closure of the court has left countless litigants in a state of legal limbo, denying them the timely adjudication they deserve.

 The closure, which began in October 2024, was purportedly based on a threat by a faceless pro-Biafra group that reportedly ordered non-Igbo judicial officials in the state to leave.

However, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has disowned the threat by the faceless group. 

RULAAC’s Executive Director, Mr. Okechukwu Nwagunma, expressed doubt that the closure of the court could still be based on the purported threat, citing that the threat was for a limited period and has long expired.

Describing the court closure as a troubling situation, Nwagunma said it also reflected a troubling trend of evading judicial duties rather than confronting security challenges head-on. 

He observed that courts in the Northeast, where insurgents and bandits posed a serious threat, were still operating. 

“This raises questions about the consistency of the response to security threats across different regions and the implications for the rule of law.It is our considered view that if insecurity is the real reason for the continued shutdown of the Owerri Division of the Appeal Court, then no courts would be sitting in the Northeast, the hotbed of Boko Haram insurgency. In Zamfara, Katsina, and Kaduna in the Northwestern part of Nigeria, where banditry holds sway, with insecurity at its peak, the courts of Appeal are comfortably sitting there. A division of the Court of Appeal was recently set up in Borno, very close to Sambisa forest. Yet courts are sitting in these crisis-ridden areas”, he stated.

Assuming that the fears were founded,  he said the recommendations by the Nigeria Bar Association regarding the utilization of technology ,was handy.

 Governments according to him , “  should immediately implement virtual hearings to ensure ongoing access to justice while addressing security concerns. Other options may also be considered, including the establishment of mobile courts or relocation of court sessions to safer venues to continue legal proceedings without interruption. We call for collaboration between judicial authorities and state governments to enhance security measures for courts and judicial staff,” he said.

Continue, he said: “ We therefore call on Southeast Governors to assert their authority and demonstrate that they are capable of providing firm and responsible leadership. They must provide and guarantee a safe environment for judicial and other governmental processes to go on unhindered.

He recalled that the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) had, in December 2024, expressed deep concern about the disruption of judicial functions in the Southeast. The NBA urged stakeholders to explore alternatives, such as virtual hearings or temporary relocation of court proceedings, to ensure that justice was accessible. According to him, the NBA also called on Southeast governors to assert their authority, ensuring the safety of judicial officers and reinforcing their ability to govern effectively.

RULAAC believes that justice must remain unwavering, even amidst security concerns. It is vital for the judiciary to explore innovative solutions to uphold the rule of law in Nigeria. “The sustained closure of these courts impairs the rights of citizens and undermines confidence in the judicial system. The commitment of all stakeholders, including the government, judiciary, and legal practitioners, is essential to restore access to justice in the Southeast region.