Posted by By GEOFFREY ANYANWU, Awka on
A judge in the High Court of Aguata, sitting at Ekwulobia, Justice Esther Uzodike yesterday ordered journalists out of the court for 'failing to obtain permission" from her before covering court proceedings.
A judge in the High Court of Aguata, sitting at Ekwulobia, Justice Esther Uzodike yesterday ordered journalists out of the court for 'failing to obtain permission" from her before covering court proceedings.
The judge, whose action caused a stir in the courtroom which was filled to the brim, even ordered the police to physically push the journalists numbering about six out of the court which she claimed belonged to her.
Trouble started midway into the hearing of case on a communal feud between the executives of Igboukwu Development Union (IDU) and some members of the community after the judge had handled two matters.
Ostensibly apprehensive of the presence of journalists in the court and the magnitude of the case, the judge stopped the proceedings and ordered all journalists in the court to stand up and get out of the court.
She declared: Are there journalists in this court? How many are you? Now get out of my court. Have they gone out? Police, go and push them out. You should have asked for my permission before entering my court."
Some of the people in the courtroom who could not bear her attitude started murmuring and saying, 'it is not your court" and urging the journalists to shun her order.
Meanwhile, Justice Uzodike has vacated two earlier order she made on October 24, 2007 and January 14, 2008 which have held the Igboukwu Development Union executive from performing their duties.
The judge also accepted a request by the traditional ruler of Igboukwu, Igwe Martin Eze that the matter be given to him and his cabinet to settle, but with a proviso that the Igwe Eze would not be part of the settlement as it was proved by the defendants' counsel, Chief Anene Nzelu that he (Igwe) is a party in one of the cases.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after the vacation of the order, IDU President-General, Nze Nwanne Robinson Ezeife said with the development, the IDU executives would now do the work for which they were elected.
'Today by God's grace, all those orders, injunctions and all those decisions of the court that were antithetical to our success here were vacated. And today, we are free to resume our legitimate and constitutional duties as elected officials of Igboukwu Development Union and we thank God for that, we thank our lawyers, our people and all those who stood by us all this time."
He said he would now search for people who are honest, transparent, who have character and integrity to look into the matter and get it resolved.