The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, says it will file a suit against the newly passed Rivers State High Court Law, 2014 which empowers the Chief registrar of the High court to assign cases.
Governor Rotimi Amaechi had assented to the law earlier in the week when it was passed by the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Members of the NBA in Port Harcourt described the law as bad.
Chairman of the Port Harcourt branch of the NBA, Denis Okwakpam disclosed this while speaking with newsmen on the outcome of an extra-ordinary meeting held by the members of the association.
Okwakpam also said the members voted overwhelmingly against the actions of the state government in the appointment of a chief judge for Rivers State.
According to him, “As far as the Nigerian Bar Association, Port Harcourt branch is concerned, it will not be practicable to carry-out that law. We have reached a conclusion that it is not a good law and we are condemning it. That is why we have also reached a decision to challenge it in court, because until we challenge it and reverse it, it is still a law.
“In the meantime, we have set up a committee to brief the House on the implications of this law.
“So, when the courts resume, we certainly will challenge it”.
He said the NBA was already in negotiation with members of the Judiciary workers to end their strike in the state.
The lawyers voted 218 votes against 16 which voted in favour of the Rivers State government.
