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Lawyers in the Nsukka judicial axis of Enugu State staged coordinated protests on Tuesday, threatening to disrupt the operations of courts over what they described as the persistent reliance on virtual proceedings by judges sitting in the area.
The protesters, hailing from five judicial divisions – Nsukka, Obollo-Afor, Enugu-Ezike, Ogbede and Umulokpa – said the settlement, introduced years ago due to insecurity along the Ugwogo-Opi-Nsukka road, has outlived its usefulness and is now undermining the administration of justice.
Members of the Nigeria Bar Association Nigeria Bar Association Nsukka Branch have said judges in the district have switched to remote hearings following repeated abductions and attacks at the Ugwogo-Opi-Nsukka corridor linking Nsukka with Enugu metropolis.
But lawyers insist that the virtual system, initially accepted as an emergency response, has now become a structural obstacle to effective judicial practice.
Speaking during the protest, the president of the branch, Sunday Agbo, said the judiciary had effectively been running virtual hearings for about three years, with court clerks often using mobile phones to connect judges to proceedings.
He argued that while the innovation was intended to address security challenges in some parts of Enugu state, it had instead created procedural gaps and weakened the involvement of the courts.
According to him, the absence of physical proceedings has exposed lawyers to operational and security risks within the court premises, including situations where opposing parties and witnesses sit in close proximity during cross-examination.
Agbo stressed that lawyers are not rejecting technology in the justice system but calling for adequately equipped courtrooms that can support effective hybrid or virtual hearings where necessary.
“We are not saying that virtual hearings should be abolished,” he said, “but courtrooms must be adequately equipped to make the process efficient and functional.”
He added that repeated complaints and petitions have been sent to the relevant authorities, including the Enugu State Government and the leadership of the State Judiciary, without any decisive improvement.
Another lawyer, Frank Agbowo, said the initial decision to adopt virtual hearings was driven by persistent insecurity along the Nsukka-Enugu route, which forced judicial officers to avoid regular physical travel.
However, he argued that the system failed to meet basic standards of justice delivery.
He said judges are sometimes unable to adequately evaluate the behavior of witnesses, the presentation of documents becomes clumsy and court files are often delayed or transferred between divisions, leading to avoidable setbacks in cases.
“Sometimes, the judge cannot properly see the documents presented, and the opposing attorney cannot review them effectively,” he said.
Agbowo also noted that unstable internet connectivity often disrupts proceedings, causing parts of hearings to be inaudible or missed entirely.
He added that while virtual hearings may be appropriate for pretrial motions and administrative matters, they are not suitable for full trials where assessing credibility and evidence are central.
The lawyer warned that if urgent reforms are not implemented, protesting lawyers will boycott court sessions in the Nsukka area, effectively blocking judicial activities.
“We will not go to court from now on. Courts in this area will be closed until physical hearings are restored or properly structured,” he said.
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