Says NBA has exposed lawyers to ridicule
Emmanuel Ukudolo l Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2019
LAGOS, Nigeria – The Integrity Nigerian Lawyers Association(INLA) has disagreed with the Nigerian Bar Association(NBA), for calling on lawyers to boycott the courts for two days in protest of decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to suspend Chief Justice of Nigeria(CJN), Justice Walter Kanu Onnoghen and appoint Justice Tanko Mohammed as Acting CJN.
“The decision to boycott courts in the present situation is not in line with procedures known to law in resolving the present confusion. NBA’s position has exposed lawyers to ridicule which is dangerous for all of us as lawyers. We therefore call on NBA leadership to reconsider its position on this matter particularly its directive to lawyers to boycott courts”
In a statement, signed by A. S. Garba Esq. – Chairman, Dr. mustapha Musa Esq. -Vice Chairman 1, Abdulhakim Owolabi Adepoju – Vice Chairman 2, Buhari Ibrahim Shehu – Secretary , Ekemini Uwa Umoh – Assistant Secretary and Audu Bulama Bukarti – Spokeperson, the group said the recent damning allegations against his Lordship the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria- Walter Onnoghen and his open admission thereof have further put to test the ability of the judiciary and by extension the entire legal profession to regulate and discipline itself.
“Unfortunately, while having grave allegations hanging on his neck, my Lord, the Honorable Chief Justice through the instrumentality of lawyers kept running in search of restraining orders – an act which various decisions of the Supreme Court have pronounced as ‘reprehensible’; a disheartening fox method, which created an unfortunate situation which shows that he is running away from justice”, INLA said.
The group noted that more troubling is the fact that before and after the order of suspension of Justice Onoghen by the Code of Conduct Tribunal all the over-reactions of lawyers on both sides where based on technicalities and that nobody was bold enough to ask the CJN to submit himself to the test of Justice that he heads and administer.
“With all this brazen destruction of our professional reputation, today (28/1/2019), the Nigerian Bar Association (NEC meeting) which is supposed to promote justice has decided to support Justice Onnoghen despite openly admitting the allegations against him. In doing so, the NBA called on all its members to boycott courts across purportedly to safeguard the reputation of the system. We however view this as an attempt to shelve one single person from facing the law. Therefore, we wish to make it categorically clear that NBA’s position is not a reflection of the collective opinion of its members”, the group said.
INLA described NBA’s position as simply a reflection of the personal interest of few people and that it is undemocratic and portrays the noble NBA as shielding suspects from justice.
The group said the action of NBA on this matter is a clug in the wheel of justice and must be reviewed.They called on the leadership of NBA to retrace its step and ensure it takes decisions that agree with the collective thoughts and opinions of its members.
“The decision to boycott courts in the present situation is not in line with procedures known to law in resolving the present confusion.NBA’s position has exposed Lawyers to ridicule which is dangerous for all of us as lawyers. We therefore call on NBA leadership to reconsider its position on this matter particularly its directive to lawyers to boycott courts”, the group said.
