The Law Officers Association of Nigeria (Ebonyi chapter) has boycotted all government cases crippling judicial activities at high courts.

The Ebonyi Chairman of LOAN, Ndubuisi Ogbuinya, said they embarked on an indefinite boycott of court cases on Tuesday.

Mr. Ogbuinya, giving the reason for the boycott, stated, “These challenges included addressing impediments militating against the optimal performance of law officers.

“Our constitution lay special emphasis on governments’ funding, welfare, and training of the justice sector and law officers.

“In this case, we are not on strike, we are always in the office, but we do not go for sittings in the court.” 

According to Mr. Ogbuinya, the boycott is to force the state government to address the LOAN members’ issue.

“These issues border on poor remuneration, non-funding of government cases, and government’s refusal to accommodate members in the payment of the national minimum wage.

“We are appealing to the state government to look into the welfare of law officers in the state,” he added.

The boycott stalled many cases involving the state government.

In the high court, a matter between the state and four persons on a murder case could not hold as prosecuting counsels were not present in the court.

Some cases under trial were either stopped or adjourned.

The chairman further urged the state government to investigate the welfare of law officers in the state.

“We are appealing to the state government to look into the welfare of law officers in the state. Lots of memos and correspondences on the subject matter have been written and sent to the state government, but efforts have not yielded the desired result,” the chairman disclosed.

All efforts to get reactions from the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Cletus Ofoke, proved abortive.