Bayelsa Lawyer Faces Death Threats After Landmark Land Case Win as Presiding Judge is Abducted

A major legal victory against the Bayelsa State Government has taken a dark turn. Barrister Augustine Aluzu, who secured a ₦20.5 million court win for the Fankien family over a disputed land, is now facing death threats, while the presiding judge, Justice E.G. Umokoro, has been abducted by unidentified gunmen in Yenagoa.

The case involved land unlawfully taken by the Bayelsa State Waterboard Authority, with the court ruling that the government violated due process and property rights. Justice Umokoro declared the acquisition unconstitutional, awarding damages and restraining the state from further interference.

Following the ruling, Aluzu began receiving threatening messages — one ominously stating: “The stubborn fly follows the corpse to the grave.” The threats escalated with messages revealing the lawyer’s exact office location, suggesting surveillance.

Just days later, Justice Umokoro was kidnapped outside a popular eatery by assailants in a white Hilux truck, raising suspicions of retaliation tied to the judgment. The state government has denied involvement, calling such claims “baseless conspiracy theories.”

The court’s decision emphasized that land rights cannot be stripped without compensation or due legal procedure, exposing gaps in the government’s handling of property acquisition. The ruling also noted failed promises of compensation dating back to 2006, and the illegal entry into the land despite ongoing negotiations.

Aluzu has called on the government to respect the court’s decision and remove the disputed land (Parcel B, IIB) from its records. Meanwhile, legal associations are calling for better protection of legal practitioners and judicial officers in politically sensitive cases.

The Bayelsa State Police have not yet released an official statement on the judge’s abduction.