The burning down of the Court of Justice Complex by bandits who hijacked the #ENDSARS protest has received wide condemnation from well-meaning Nigerians, particularly Deltans.
Delta State Chief Judge, Justice Marshal Umukoro has condemned the burning down of the State High Court of Justice complex located at Ibusa road, describing it as an act of sabotage by criminal elements who masqueraded themselves as ENDSARS protesters.
The Chief Judge who visited the burnt complex, to ascertain the level of destruction done to the building by the hoodlums who set the complex on fire and carted away some exhibits, expressed pain and disappointment on the sad development which he said was a major setback for the judiciary.
Justice Mukoro who was accompanied by the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Peter Mrakpor, the Commissioner for Housing, Honourable Festus Ochonogor and some judicial Officers, disclosed that the development was a setback for over three thousand cases the Asaba Judicial Division was adjudicating upon as court register, case files and other court records and office equipment were gulfed by the inferno.
While describing the act as an impediment in the wheel of justice in one of the busiest judicial divisions in the State, the CJ however disclosed that the State Commissioner for Housing has been directed by the state governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, to submit the Bill of Quantity (BoQ) for the fixing of the building to enable the State Government immediately commence the reconstruction of the complex.
Also speaking, the Attorney-General of the State and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Peter Mrakpor, condemned the act and described the wanton destruction of the High Court building as tantamount to throwing spanners in the wheels of Justice by the arsonists.
He said the Courtrooms are sacred and wondered why anyone should attack the judiciary as according to the Justice Commissioner, the judiciary remains the last bastion and the beacon of hope for the common man.
Mrakpor, who had earlier visited the Ibusa road Office of the Ministry of Justice, that also came under attack by the hoodlums who smashed windows of the building, destroyed office vehicle parked at the premises and carted away some office equipment, maintained that destruction was perpetrated by criminals, majority of whom were suspiciously from outside the state who took advantage of the ENDSARS protest to unleash mayhem.
The Chairman of the Asaba branch of the NBA, Mr. Eseagwu Eze who also spoke, expressed shock at the development and averred that it was not the building that was attacked but the concept of justice saying that it was a critical moment for the Asaba Judicial Division and the NBA.
