In a sudden move citing security concerns, the Owerri Division of the Court of Appeal has announced a temporary closure from Monday, October 28 to Friday, November 1, 2024.
This decision comes as a precautionary measure and affects lawyers, litigants, and other court visitors who had scheduled hearings during the week.
The court’s management issued a press release, signed by the Deputy Chief Registrar, informing the public of this unexpected suspension.
“Despite the fact that we have issued a HEARING Notice against 28th of October to 1st November, we are compelled by some security concerns to postpone the sitting this week,” the release read.
It further clarified that all previously issued hearing notices for this period are now effectively cancelled.
The court’s statement emphasized the intent to prevent any unnecessary expenditures of “time, energy, and money” for those planning to attend.
“We issued this information ahead of time to save your time, energy, and money. We are sorry for any inconveniences this might have caused you,” the notice added.
While the announcement addressed the logistical aspects of the temporary shutdown, it left key questions unanswered, including specifics of the security concerns prompting the action.
The vague nature of the concerns has raised apprehensions among legal practitioners and citizens alike, with some questioning whether this reflects broader security issues affecting judicial processes in the region.
This closure adds to a growing list of recent adjustments in judicial operations in Nigeria, where security challenges have impacted various government functions.
As of now, it remains unclear if similar measures will be taken in other divisions, and whether this move by the Owerri court signals a trend toward heightened security protocols across the judiciary.
Local authorities have not commented on the situation, leaving court users to navigate the abrupt change without clear insight into the underlying threats.
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