John Aikpokpo-Martin, the immediate past Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) 1st Vice President, had unequivocally, condemned the assassination of Nathan Akatakpo, Esq.
According his Facebook post, Akatakpo Esq, was murdered on Monday, a day after his client met similar fate.
According to 1st VP emeritus, “An attack against a lawyer must be an attack against all lawyers.”
The full post reads;
Nathan Akatakpo, a lawyer and a gentle man was said to have been assassinated at Ahouda, Rivers State on Monday 21/11/2022.
His client was also said to have been murdered a day earlier, showing that he was most probably killed for defending the rights of his client in court.
It is so sad and I am very shocked that this very vile assasination was not reported in any news outlet….so, it is so normal to kill a lawyer for defending others!
This matter must not be allowed to go the way of other attacks on lawyers, because the clue to those probably behind the murder is very obvious. It is scandalous and very daring that a group of persons can plot to kill a lawyer not minding the inference that can be drawn from the killing of his client a day earlier.
The lawyer of your opponent is not your problem, he is only an advocate and intercessor just like your own lawyer.
An attack against a lawyer must be an attack against all lawyers…..may justice be served on your behalf Nathan Akatapo of counsel.”
Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN reacting to this news, condemned the the assassination if true.
He urged NBA to reach out to the NBA leadership, Eastern Bar Forum and Bar leaders in Ahoda and Port Harcourt, to ascertain the news is true although he believes that 1st VP emeritus is not a flippant baseless rumor merchant.
He further appealed that the police, should leave no stone unturned to get to the root of this dastardly act.
These gruesome murders of our colleagues is becoming so alarming that send shiver into my spine, and also threatening the zeal of the law profession. Why are we nowadays becoming an endangered species to be annihilated for jungle justice to bleed monsters and we all stand watching the scenario unabated. Oh may the souls of all lawyers murdered avenge for there murderers. We that are alive should wake up and seek out for justice in other to save this noble profession.