The Nigerian Bar Association,(NBA) in Abia State, has threatened to mobilize lawyers against Governor Alex Otti if he fails to take actions to implement a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the state government and the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN).
The NBA handed a 14 day ultimatum to the Governor over the strike embarked upon by JUSUN,Abia State chapter.
JUSUN in Abia State chapter, had on 16th March,2026, embarked on strike over the non implementation of the MOU, signed between the union and the state government on 14th June,2023.
In a communique issued after the 10 quarterly meeting of the body of the chairmen ,Abia Bar, which includes the five Bar branches; Aba, Umuahia, Isiala Ngwa,Ukwa and Bende, the NBA stated that the MOU signed between the state government and JUSUN on 14th March,2023,is binding on all parties.
The body alleged that the they had applied through a letter dated April 1, 2026,to meet with the Governor to resolve the matter ,but the Governor had ignored their letter.
They explained that the facts canvassed by the Attorney General of Abia State, Ikechukwu Uwanna, SAN, during a press conference on the current JUSUN strike in the State is grievously false and a mirage.
The chairmen further stated that the Attorney General has also refused to meet with them to look into the matter.
Chairmen of the respective NBA branches,Charles Onuchukwu -Aba; Isaac Anya – Umuahia; Eze Nwaegoro -Isiala Ngwa; Kingsley Nwachi -Ukwa; and S.E. Elekeson – Bende; further disclosed that they had met with the state executive committee of JUSUN led by Prince Chinedu Eze, who presented an MOU signed by Ikechukwu Uwanna,then Senior Special Assistant on legal matters to the Governor; Chief Registrar of the High Court of Abia State, Mrs V. C. Okey- Nwokeukwu, which outlined government promises to pay leave allowances and other shortfalls,and also reiterated JUSUN’s right to resume strike action in the case of any breach of the MOU.
The NBA insisted that JUSUN ought to be independent to be free to perform her function without fear or favour, stressing that the refusal of the state government to grant financial autonomy to the state judiciary tells the story against the
The communique read in part;”The Bar demands that the Government of Abia State should grant financial autonomy to the Abia State Judiciary without further delay.
“The Bar also demand that funds due to the Abia State Judiciary must be paid directly to the official account of the Abia State Judiciary from the Consolidated Revenue Fund so that the JUSUN strike can be immediately suspended or called off.
“If after the expiration of 14 working days the demands of the Bar are not complied with, the Body of Chairmen will be left with no other option than to mobilize Lawyers in all the Branches of our Association in the State to stage a mass protest against the Abia State Government’s constitutional recklessness on this issue.
“The Memorandum Of Understanding signed between the Abia State Government and the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Abia State chapter on the 14th day of June, 2023 is still sacrosanct and same is binding on all the parties to the agreement.
“Despite the constitutional provisions, the Abia State Judiciary is still dependent on the Executive arm of Government for her funding.
“Funds due to the Abia State Judiciary must be paid directly to the Chief Judge of Abia State and the President of the Customary Court of Appeal Abia State from the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
“The refusal by the Abia State Government (both past and present) to grant financial autonomy to the State Judiciary speaks volume of the level of unconstitutionality, lawlessness and impunity Nigeria deals with.
“The Abia State Government led by Dr. Alex Otti, should not be allowed to cherry-pick what aspect of the Constitution to obey, neither should the Government set a particular time to obey the Constitution.
“The facts canvassed by the learned Attorney General of Abia State, Ikechukwu Uwanna, SAN in the cause of his press conference on the current JUSUN strike in Abia State is grievously false and therefore being reduced to a mirage and its proof a herculean task that requires more than doctrinal argument of the Chief Law Officer of Abia State which cannot take the place of hard facts and evidence against the Abia State Government.”
