Courts in Mgbidi, Oguta, and Omumma areas of Imo State were brought to a standstill on Thursday following the shocking murder of a lawyer, Chinedu Nwowu.
The tragic incident occurred on Wednesday evening in Nwowu’s hometown, Mgbidi, when he was ambushed and fatally shot by unidentified gunmen.
According to sources, armed assailants blocked Nwowu’s vehicle before opening fire, killing him on the spot. The motive for the attack remains unclear, sparking widespread concern across the state.
In response to the lawyer’s death, the Orlu Branch of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), to which Nwowu belonged, declared an immediate shutdown of court activities across Mgbidi, Oguta, and Omumma.
The branch also called for an emergency meeting to address the situation, which was scheduled to hold at the Mgbidi High Court.
A statement issued by Chukwuemeka Okoro, on behalf of the NBA Orlu Branch, confirmed the suspension of court sessions: “Following the gruesome murder of one of us, CHINEDU NWOWU, last night in his town, Mgbidi, all lawyers of Oru/Oguta Forum are hereby notified of a crucial emergency meeting this morning by 10am at the High Court, Mgbidi. The Mgbidi, Oguta, and Omumma High Courts will not sit today. Please, be punctual.”
Ben Amukamara, NBA Chairman of the Orlu Branch, confirmed the closure, stating that members were gathered at the Mgbidi High Court to discuss the incident.
As of the time of this report, the Imo State Police spokesperson, Henry Okoye, had not yet commented on the murder or responded to inquiries about the investigation.
