Magistrate Court Thrown Into Confusion As Dead Lawyer Appeared In Court To Defend His Client

There was pandemonium in a magistrate court holden in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Wednesday, when it found out that a lawyer who had died appeared to conduct his ongoing matter.

It was reported that the counsel, whose name could not be ascertained at press time, had died in December 2025 and been buried but appeared before the court on Tuesday the 10th of February, 2026, to conduct his matter.

It was learned that the lawyer, who was handling a sensitive matter between the Magistrate Court, was reportedly killed by unknown individuals and that the matter was reported to the police.

However, when the matter was called for hearing on Wednesday, and the lawyer was not present, the court on inquiry was informed by the litigant that his lawyer died in December 2025 and that he is making an effort to get a new legal representative.

The court, presided over by Senior Magistrate Kingsley Briggs, was thrown into confusion.

Briggs, on hearing of the demise of the legal counsel, recalled the appearance of the lawyer on the last adjourned date, when the litigant was not in court based on a health challenge.

The magistrate searched through his record book, where he confirmed the lawyer’s presence during the proceeding on Tuesday, the 10th day of February, 2026.

Briggs informed the litigant on how the court had wanted to issue a bench warrant on him if not for the intervention of his lawyer, who pleaded that he, the litigant, was sick and needed medical attention.

The Senior Magistrate also narrated how, based on the plea of ill health by the lawyer, the court did not issue the bench warrant but adjourned the matter till Wednesday, the 12th of March, 2026.

In order to clear the confusion, the vice chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Port Harcourt Branch, who was in court, suggested that a call be put across to the family of the lawyer.

When the call was made, a member of the family confirmed the death, adding that the lawyer died in December last year.

According to the family member, the lawyer was allegedly strangled to death in his apartment in Oyigbo last year in December, and the police are still investigating the matter.

The confirmation sparked confusion as many of the litigants and lawyers quickly left the courtroom.