Ekiti Shuts Courts Over Hoodlums Attack On Judges

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News, News From The State, Politics Thursday, September 25th, 2014

By Niyi Adeyi

Following two consecutive attacks by the political thugs on members of the Ekiti Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, the state government has directed closure of the state courts across the state.

The Ekiti State Chief Judge, Ayodeji Daramola, gave the directive Thursday and said the courts would remained closed untill the necessary security measures were put in place.

In a press statement issued in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, by the state Chief Registrar, Obafemi Fasanmi, the government hinged the decision on the concern relating to attacks and disruption in the court premises in the state capital, in the past few days – Monday and Thursday by the hoodlums believed to be working for the state opposition PDP.

While Justice Ogunyemi was attacked on Monday, another jurist, Justice John Adeyeye was the victim in the latest, on the instruction of the Governor – Elect, Mr. Ayodele Fayose. He was assaulted, beaten up by the thugs and his clothes torn.

The Registrar regretted that the attack on the court was so serious to the extent that . the judge was “ferried to safety by police after he was threatened” by the political thugs.

The invasion Fasanmi indicated affected the court room of the Hon. Chief Judge. The office he stated was destroyed, while members of staff attached to his office were beaten up and the judge court record book torn into pieces by the “political thugs who also invaded and disrupted proceedings” at the election petition tribunal within the High Court 3 premises in Ado Ekiti.