Human rights lawyer and public interest advocate, Chief Malcolm Emokiniovo Omirhobo, has described the gruesome killing of retired High Court judge, Justice Ifeoma Okogwu, as a national crisis and a direct assault on the Nigerian judiciary.
In a public interest statement, Omirhobo said the assassination represents more than the loss of an individual, warning that it signals a breakdown of security and a growing boldness among criminal elements who now operate without fear of the law.
“When a judge, even in retirement, can be hunted down and murdered with such precision, it sends one unmistakable message: no one is safe,” he said.
Omirhobo criticised the absence of concrete actions from the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies, noting that responses have so far been limited to “vague statements” about investigations. He described the situation as unacceptable and called for urgent and decisive intervention.
He issued a series of public interest demands, insisting that the case must not become another unresolved tragedy: Omirhobo called on the Inspector-General of Police to constitute a multi-agency investigative team comprising the DSS, forensic experts, intelligence officers, and homicide professionals to ensure a thorough probe.
He urged security agencies to immediately identify and apprehend those responsible, warning that failure to do so would undermine public confidence and embolden further attacks on judicial officers.
The lawyer said judges now operate under fear, adding that without adequate protection, judicial independence and the administration of justice are significantly threatened.
Omirhobo tasked the National Judicial Council (NJC), the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and other judicial bodies to speak decisively against the killing, stressing that silence at such a moment is dangerous.
He further demanded regular and transparent briefings from security agencies to reassure Nigerians that the investigation is being taken seriously.
Calling the incident a “bleeding point” in Nigeria’s worsening insecurity, Omirhobo said Justice Okogwu served the nation honourably and deserved justice.
“Allowing the murder of a judge to go unresolved will deepen that wound and accelerate our national decline,” he said, adding that the time for decisive action “is now.”
