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•Lawyers boycott courts over abducted colleague
From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
A popular Catholic Priest of Onitsha Archdiocese, Rev. Fr. Basil Gbuzue, has been kidnapped even as lawyers in Anambra State boycotted courts, yesterday, over the abduction of their colleague.
Fr. Gbuzue, popularly known as Man pass Man, a resident priest at Holy Trinity Parish, Ogidi, is the Spiritual Director of Mountain of Solution Catholic Adoration Ministry (MOSCAM), a prayer ministry attended by a multitude of worshippers every week in Anambra State.
Chancellor of Onitsha Archdiocese, Rev. Fr, Prudentius Aroh, who confirmed the kidnap incident in a letter dated May 16, 2024, and addressed to all priests, religious and lay faithful of the Archdiocese, disclosed that Fr. Gbuzue was kidnapped, on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, along the Eke Nkpor-Obosi Bypass, at about 8am. He said the abductors were yet to establish contact with anybody.
“His Grace, Most Rev. Valerian Okeke, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Onitsha, invites all Christ’s faithful and all men and women of goodwill to earnestly pray for the quick and safe release of the priest, as we intensify our efforts to ensure his freedom,” the statement noted.
Meanwhile, activities at the various courts in Anambra State were paralysed, yesterday, following a boycott of courts by lawyers, to press for the release of the Secretary, Idemili Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chukwubuikem .J. S. Asoro, who was kidnapped at Abagana, last Saturday.
A circular posted to all lawyers and different branches of the NBA, Anambra State, through their branch chairmen, signed by the Chairman, Committee of Chairmen and Secretaries, NBA branches, Anambra State, I. C. Nsofor, sighted by Daily Sun, ordered all lawyers to ensure strict compliance to the directive to boycott courts, yesterday.
When Daily Sun visited the Onitsha Magistrates’ and High Courts, yesterday, many litigants and others who had their cases slated for the day were disappointed as judges and magistrates presiding various courts in the premises didn’t show up for the business of the day. Many lawyers, who had several matters slated for the day, filed into the court to pick new dates even as others who expected judgements to be delivered on their cases left for home disappointed.
However, the police authorities in Anambra State said they have launched a manhunt for the abductors and possible rescue of Fr. Gbuzue. The Command’s Spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the command was already working with some witnesses to the incident in the ongoing operation.
He disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, Nnaghe Obono Itam, addressed the Catholic priests during their meeting in Onitsha, allayed their fears and assured them that the command would do everything to rescue the priest unhurt, and arrest the abductors.
