Court sittings have been temporarily suspended in Imo State High Court following an alleged shaking of one of the Federal High Court buildings suspected to have been caused by structural defects.

For their safety, the lawyers refused to enter the said building which is said to be one of the tallest in the premises.

It was gathered by our correspondent that the new Federal High Court buildings were built during the Rescue Mission administration of the former Governor, Rochas Okorocha.

Speaking to Journalists in front of the collapsing structure at the Federal High Court, the State Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Chris Ihentuge, announced that lawyers have suspended judiciary activities for one week in the said building until the proper maintenance is done, saying being in the collapsing building in the name of going to court poses great danger, as they cannot afford risking or losing their lives in a suicidal manner.

The NBA Chairman informed that the said building was having structural defects prior to occupation but regretted that the State Government, which promised to bring an expert to conduct an integrity test on the building with a view to fixing it, did not fulfill its promise.

He said, to stay safe, ”the NBA, Owerri branch, has warned lawyers and litigants, that it is risky using the shaking judiciary building, which he lamented has been very unseemly dangerous.

Ihentuge used the moment to call on the state government and other well-meaning members of society to quickly intervene to improve the judiciary for the good of humanity and the advancement of society.

According to Ihentuge, “I was reliably informed that as at yesterday (Thursday) while one of the courts was on, one of the buildings was vibrating. I have made calls to the Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court who confirmed that The Lord, Onyeukwu, had informed her of the incident. I also heard from another Judge that the building was terribly shaking two days ago while the court was sitting”.

He stressed that the issue had been lingering even before the building was put to use, confirming that
there were a lot of complaints about the structural defects in the building without any positive response.

“As at last 2 weeks when the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, had a media chat, I informed the Governor that this building is in bad shape. The Governor confirmed he had received that complaint and that he will do integrity test on the building and up till today nothing has happened

“We cannot risk our lives in the name of going to court. So, we are saying for now, we suspend, for one week, the use of this building, until the proper thing is done, which is, let experts come and certify the integrity test – that this building is fit” he further said.

The NBA State Chairman said he had notified lawyers and litigants that it is risky using the building as it is now.

“That is why we are complaining that a Chief Judge should be appointed for the Imo State Judiciary. A situation that, where we do not have a Chief Judge going to 3 months, is not acceptable. Because we cannot remain like this without a leader”, he maintained.