From Victor Akinkuolie,  Ado-Ekiti
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Pained  by  the gruesome murder of their colleague, Mr Adeola Adebayo by kidnappers, lawyers in Ekiti State are to keep away from the courts for one week.

The lawyers conveyed the notice of boycott of the courts in a letter dated December 3, 2018 and signed by one Mr. Temidayo Akeredolu, Secretary of the Joint Committee of Ekiti Bar.

The lawyers addressed the letter to the Chief Registrar, Ekiti State Judiciary, and made its copies available to the Chief Judge, all Judges, all Magistrates and all Customary Court Presidents among others.

The letter entitled: “Re: Kidnap and Eventual Killing of Adeola Adebayo Esq, Notice of Boycott of all Courts activities  in Ekiti State” explained that the action of the lawyers was “on the authorisation and approval of the Joint Committee of Ekiti Bar.”

They noted that a street protest was organised on Monday, December 3rd “to request for immediate arrest and prosecution of the bloodthirsty harbingers of death that kidnapped and killed Adeola Adebayo.”

They had marched to the governor’s office, the Ekiti police command headquarters and the office of the Department of State Services (DSS) and had delivered a letter to the various authorities in which their demand for the arrest and prosecution of the bandits was stressed.

They said the boycott was in furtherance to the street protest, saying “all lawyers unanimously at a congress which took place after the protest, resolved to stay away and boycott all courts in the state for one week starting from the 4th of December, 2018.

“This is to further drive home our request as stated above and to also demand that government should take responsibility for the security of lives and property.”

Adeola Adebayo was kidnapped on November 17th and his decomposed body was found on December 1, after they said they had paid a ransom amounting to millions of naira.

During the protest, the lawyers  clad in black attire were led by Chairmen of Ado, Ikere and Ikole NBA branches, Barristers Samuel Falade, Oludayo Olorunfemi and Ibrahim Olarewaju respectively.

They displayed placards with the following inscriptions: Security of lives and property is primary, provide security  for Nigerians, NBA says no to kidnapping, insecurity, killing, lawyers lives matters, save our soul, among others.