Though an earlier plan involved a protest march to security agencies, the association resolved instead to hold a solemn court closure and a press briefing, choosing to keep the spotlight firmly on the judge’s safe return and avoid distractions from the core objective.

On Monday morning, lawyers across the state refrained from appearing in court, while those in Yenagoa converged on the High Court Headquarters, robed in full regulation attire, including collars and bibs, in a unified show of resistance.

According to the association, protest letters were to be formally submitted to the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police and the State Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), calling for urgent and decisive action in the case.

Johnbull clarified that the boycott was not a punitive measure but a professional duty.

“Our action today is not intended to disrupt the legal process but to defend its sanctity. The judiciary must be protected. Judges must be able to perform their constitutional duties without fear of abduction or harm,” he said.

The NBA further assured that it would continue to monitor the situation closely and take all lawful steps necessary until Justice Omukoro is safely reunited with his family and resumes his judicial functions.