Chaos at Port Harcourt Court After Deceased Lawyer Appears ‘In Person’ in Records
Chaos erupted at a Magistrate Court in Port Harcourt after a lawyer, reportedly deceased for months, was recorded as attending a court session.
The incident occurred during proceedings overseen by Senior Magistrate Kingsley Briggs. When a case was called, the defendant’s lawyer was absent. Upon inquiry, the client revealed that his lawyer had passed away in December 2025.
Court Records Show Lawyer ‘Present’ After Death
Confusion intensified when court documents indicated that the same lawyer had appeared on February 10, 2026, to request that the court refrain from issuing a bench warrant for his client, who was reportedly ill. The case was subsequently adjourned to March 11, 2026. The revelation stunned everyone present, as the client insisted his lawyer had died two months prior to the recorded appearance.
Family Confirms Death, Police Investigate
To clarify the matter, a representative of the Nigerian Bar Association suggested contacting the lawyer’s family. A relative confirmed the lawyer’s death in December 2025 and alleged that he had been strangled in his Oyigbo apartment. The incident had reportedly already been reported to the police.
Court Reviews Proceedings
The unusual development has raised serious questions about how a deceased lawyer’s name appeared in official court records. Court officials have begun reviewing the February proceedings and related documentation to determine what exactly happened.
