By Rita Enemuru, Reporting
A sitting judge of the Delta State Customary Court was on Monday assaulted by a commercial motorcycle rider in an incident that has sparked public outrage and renewed concerns over the safety and welfare of judicial officers in the state.
Amid sketchy details, the incident reportedly occurred on December 15, 2025, when the judge, who had engaged the services of an okada rider due to the absence of official transportation, was physically attacked by the same rider upon arrival at the court premises.
The assault, according to a vociferous and human rights lawyer, Omemiroro Maxwell Ogedegbe, Esq., took place in full public view, directly in front of the court building which he did’nt mention.
He described the development as deeply troubling, noting that the court environment is expected to represent safety, order and respect for the rule of law.
He condemned the incident as an affront to the judiciary and a disturbing indication of the growing insecurity faced by judicial officers in the state.
According to him, the attack highlights longstanding concerns about the poor welfare and inadequate protection of judges, many of whom are forced to rely on commercial transport alongside litigants, suspects and members of the public with cases before their courts.
The situation, Ogedegbe argued in a statement on his verified Facebook account, exposes judicial officers to unnecessary risk and humiliation, while also posing a threat to judicial independence.
He added that such act contrast with the security and comfort enjoyed by political office holders, who are often accompanied by convoys of government-funded vehicles.
Ogedegbe further stated that the assault underscores the urgent need for the Delta State Government to improve the working conditions of judges.
He warned that an unsafe and exposed judiciary weakens the authority of the courts and emboldens lawlessness.
Calls have now intensified for the state government to provide judicial officers with official vehicles, adequate security and dignified working conditions befitting their constitutional role.
Analysts say failure to act decisively could further erode public confidence in the justice system and encourage disrespect for the rule of law.
The assault, many have noted, should serve as a wake-up call for urgent reforms to safeguard those entrusted with dispensing justice in Delta State.
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