Robbers attack judge in Lagos

Hon. Justice Olayinka Gbaja-Biamila of High court 1 Ikorodu Division was Tuesday attacked on his way to work and his briefcase stolen in the process.

The judge, reports say was scheduled to give two judgments and two rulings on cases on that day.

It was learnt that no case was heard in Court 1 of the Ikorodu Division of the Lagos State High Court Tuesday as a result of the attack on the judge.

Though information on the matter was sketchy as at Wednesday night but a source told newsmen that Justice Gbaja-Biamila, the Presiding Judge at the Lagos State High Court, Ikorodu Division, had already left Lekki, on his way to Ikorodu, when the incident occurred.

The assailants, who were heavily-armed, blocked the judge’s Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) with another vehicle early Tuesday morning, forcing him to a stop on the road and threatened him with their guns. Then they made off with his briefcase. Lawyers and judges usually store important court documents, including judgments, in their briefcases.

The Bar List for Tuesday showed that there were nine matters before the court: two for judgment, two for ruling, and three for mention, while two were for argument.

It was not known whether the attack was in any way connected to a judgment the justice was scheduled to give.

“It was very serious,” the source said, “It happened early in the morning when his lordship was on his way to work.

“The group was heavily-armed. The men blocked his Jeep with their own vehicle and threatened him with their guns. They made him put up his hands and took his briefcase, thinking it contained money. You know that robbers think big men carry money in briefcases. Then they drove off.”

The source added: “I don’t know how many they were, but they were all men. It was really terrible.”

However, the source could not confirm if his lordship was hurt during the attack.

At the high court premises in Ikorodu Tuesday morning, litigants and their counsels, who had matters before the judge, had started arriving as early as 9:00am, but after waiting for a while they were informed that his lordship would not be present for the day’s business.

A counsel to one of the litigants, who spoke to journalists on condition of anonymity, said the justice sent a message across through a court official that he would not be available for the day. The judge had fallen ill, the lawyer said.

An officer of the court, who also declined to give his name, confirmed the counsel’s statement and added that the judge would resume tomorrow. Court 1 is not usually in session on Wednesdays.

All the cases were subsequently rescheduled by officials at Court 1.