Okada Rider Assaults Judge In Delta

The Presiding Judge of the Customary Court Ovwia, Delta State has been molested by a commercial motorcycle rider, popularly known as ‘Okada man.”

The rider has been handed over to the police at Ovwian police station, Delta State for interrogation and possible prosecution.

The trial judge had merely engaged the services of the commercial motorcyclist due to lack of official transportation, and was physically attacked by the same rider in the full glare of the public.

The judge stated that the issue was on an agreed amount only for the rider to insist on additional money claiming the road to the court was bad while she insisted that there was an agreement on the actual amount to be paid at inception, only for the rider to become rude by assaulting her physically.

Eyewitness confirmed that the bike man wanted to play a fast one on the judge claiming the route to the court was bad and refused to take agreed fee and declined to return the remaining change to the judge.

“The bike man wanted to dispossess the judge of her change. He rough handled the Judge in front of the court but was unlucky as lawyers around the court premises rescued the Judge.

“Despite the unruly behaviour and caution, the bike rider was reluctant to return the change to the Judge and he was taken alongside his motorcycle to the police station by lawyers for police prosecution,” eyewitness confirmed.

Also, Omemiroro Maxwell Ogedegbe, human right activist, confirmed the sitting judge of the Delta State Customary Court was assaulted by an irate Okada rider who conveyed the judicial officer to court.

He lamented that the unfortunate incident exposed a deeper and more dangerous problem, the deplorable state of welfare and security of judicial officers in Delta State.

According to Ogedegbe, it is both alarming and unacceptable that a judicial officer must share tricycles and commercial motorcycles with litigants, suspects and members of the public whose matters are pending before their courts.

He called on the Delta State Government to act urgently to adequately protect judicial officers, by providing official vehicles, security details and dignified working conditions befitting their constitutional status.

“Failure to do so sends a wrong signal to society and emboldens lawlessness, disrespect for courts, and attacks on the justice system itself.

“In a disturbing turn of events, the assault occurred right in front of the court premises, a place that ought to symbolize safety, order, and respect for the rule of law. The situation has now degenerated to outright assault.

“Judges, who are constitutionally entrusted with the sacred duty of dispensing justice, resolving disputes, and maintaining societal order, are daily subjected to humiliation, insecurity, and unnecessary exposure to danger.

“While political office holders in the state enjoy convoys of luxury vehicles—some possessing multiple government-funded jeeps- the men and women who form the backbone of justice administration are left to fend for themselves.

“This disparity is not only unjust; it is dangerous and capable of undermining judicial independence. A Judge who is unsafe is a Judge under pressure. A Judge who is humiliated is a Judge whose authority is weakened. A judiciary that is exposed is a judiciary at risk.

“The assault on this Judge should serve as a wake-up call. Justice must not only be done; those who dispense it must be protected, respected and secured. The time to act is now,” Ogedegbe stated.