NBA CHAIR, JUSTIN GBAGIR MOURNS BARR. ORKAR, DECRIES SECURITY INFRACTIONS, SUES FOR INDEPENDENCE OF THE JUDICIARY
State NBA chairman – Justin Gbagir Esq
Deborah Adekaa
Following the death of Barr. Denen Simon Orkar, the Nigerian Bar Association, Makurdi, Branch on 7 May, 2021 held a Valedictory Court Session in his honour at the High Court Complex premises in Makurdi, the Benue State Capital.
The Valedictory Court session was presided over by Hon. Justice S.O Itodo, supported by some Justices of the Benue State Judiciary, including the President Customary Court of Appeal and Former Chief Judge of Benue State Honourable Justice Iorhemen Hwande and Hon. Justice Targema of National Industrial Court of Nigeria.
Moving the Ex Parte application for the deceased lawyer to be moved to his hometown in Vadeikya Local Government for interment. P. M Ukande, Director Public Prosecution, moved the application on behalf of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mike Gusa. He extols the rich, promising and fulfilled life of the deceased and lamented why death has continued to harvest members of the noble profession in their prime. He urged members of the family to bear the irreplaceable loss.
In his reaction and support to the application moved by the DPP, the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association Makurdi Branch, Justin Gbagir, eulogized the personality of the deceased colleague and lamented why death has continued to snatch members of the noble profession. He prayed God to grant the family of Orkar and his NBA colleagues the fortitude to bear the loss. In 2021, between January and April, the noble profession in Makurdi Branch has loss three members, including Jeffery Luper Wayo Ubwa, Esq, Michael Torkaa Inja Aaga Esq, Gboko Gar Gbakon Esq and Denen Simon Orkar Esq.
Barr. Gbagir used the occasion to comment on the security infractions in the country. The Chairman condemned attacks and killings by armed herdsmen in Benue communities of Naka, Gwer West Local Government recently. He further condemned the vicious attacks on the Abagena IDP Camp, few kilometres away from Makurdi, the State Capital. According to him; “our country has gone berserk, fear is all over the land, the blood of the maimed, slaughtered and hanged Nigerians are crying for help. Today, the enforceable words and letters of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), all extant laws and International Treaties on Human and Peoples’ Rights no longer applies in Nigeria in protecting lives and properties.”
The Bar Chair also expressed displeasure on the intrigues surrounding financial autonomy of the judiciary by the executive arm. He described the situation as “unacceptable and against global practice.” He opined that for the judiciary to effectively discharge its mandate under the constitution, its independence is not negotiable. Justin Gbagir stated that “from time immemorial, the court has remained the bastion of hope, especially to the poor and the downtrodden; adjudicating between contending parties and interpreting the laws of the land as an independent judicial arm of government, as required by the constitution. The court is also a strong shelter in times of oppression or repression.” A situation where the judiciary begs practically for resources from the executive arm of government cannot guarantee its independence.
