By NewsBits
The Customary Court of Appeal division in Erike Obukpa town in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State was thrown into chaos when two lawyers engaged in a chaotic altercation at a courtroom.
The shocking incident, which was captured in a viral, has since sparked outrage. The footage captured a heated verbal exchange between the two lawyers identified as Barr. Ojobor and Barr. R.C. Onah, both of who hail from the area.
The video showed the legal practitioners threatening each other with physical violence while disregarding pleas by the court clerks and other learned friends to stop. At one point, the lawyers were seen lifting and brandishing chairs, indicating the confrontation could become physical.
One of the lawyers was then heard saying, “He is a very small boy… He is a mad man.” The second lawyer warned, “Touch me again…”
“Who touched you. Look at this mad man,” the first lawyer said. He later started walking out of the courtroom.
“Look at you. You have bleached yourself like a fool. You have bleached yourself like a woman,” the second lawyer said to his colleague’s retreating figure. The deplorable state of the courtroom itself was noticeable in the video.
It seemed abandoned with broken furniture. This highlighted the poor infrastructure plaguing Nigeria’s justice system. Many have condemned the embarrassing incident, stating it shows a lack of professional ethics among the lawyers involved.
One observer noted the altercation mirrored “motor park touts.” The video has gone viral on WhatsApp, eliciting more reactions. One lawyer commented it reflects the “hopelessness” and shameful state of the legal profession in Nigeria.
There have been calls for the Nigerian Bar Association’s national officers to address the issue and take action. However, the Nsukka Branch of the NBA is yet to publicly react.
The footage further stresses the need to restore order within the judiciary and legal practice. It also underscores the urgency of improving court infrastructure across Enugu State. Authorities must investigate the shameful incident and enforce discipline among legal practitioners. The justice system’s integrity hinges on proper conduct by lawyers who are integral court officers.
