No fewer than 80 Lawyers in Enugu North Senatorial district on Tuesday protested over poor virtual hearing of cases in courts in the district without adequate support facilities.
According to them they situation haf stalled speedy dispensation of justice and placed heavy financial burden on litigants.
Speaking during the protest, Mr Christopher Agbo, Chairman Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Nsukka Branch, said lawyers have been forced to protest since efforts by the association to get the authorities to address the issue failed.
Agbo said NBA had written to Enugu State Chief Judge about their challenges but nothing came out of it.
Agbo noted that while lawyers were not against virtual hearing of matters in court, they were only asking that the necessary facilities that would aid the process be provided for seamless court proceedings.
“Three demands by NBA to government are; judges should be sitting physically in all the judicial divisions in the district, judges quarters should be built to ensure judges reside in their division of postings.
“And that adequate facilities for virtual hearing be provided where the courts cannot sit physically,” he said
Agbo urged Enugu State Government and the Chief Judge of the state to replicate what they had done in Enugu by providing large screens, public address systems and wifi for improved network that would make a seamless virtual court sessions.
“The issue of network challenges have always affected virtual hearing and hampered justice delivery within Enugu North Senatorial District judicial divisions.
“Litigants are losing confidence in the judiciary affected judicial divisions and the cost of litigation has increased the financial burden on those who seek justice through the courts,” he noted
The NBA chairman said lawyers resorted to public protests to let the public, the government and NBA national see and know what they were passing through.
Eze explained that, Enugu North Senatorial district comprised of five judicial divisions which include Nsukka, Obollo-Afor, Ogbede, Orba and Enugu Ezike
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