The Nigerian Bar Association NBA has called for punitive actions against lawyers and Judges involved in the issuance of conflicting orders in the Kano Emirate legal tussle.
The NBA’s President, Yakubu Maikyau, stated that the NBA will lawyer was found responsible for the misconduct
He urged the Chief Judges of the Federal High Court and the High Court of Kano State to identify the judicial officers involved in bringing disgrace to the legal profession and take appropriate steps for disciplinary action by the National Judicial Council.
“I have keenly followed the developments on the recent events concerning the stool of the Emir of Kano. I must say, without any equivocation, that the conduct of counsel and the Courts in the handling of the proceedings which culminated in the orders issued by the Federal High Court, the Kano State High Court and again the Federal High Court, in the circus, have brought utter disgrace and shame to the profession have exposed the entire legal profession in Nigeria to public ridicule and opprobrium.”
“For a country whose legal resources and expertise have for several decades been exported and positively impacted not only the African continent but the world at large, it is completely unacceptable that the processes of our courts would be deployed in the manner we have witnessed in the last couple of days, on a subject matter.
“This is a subject that has been sufficiently dealt with by legislation and case law, leaving no one confused about the jurisprudence on the subject both procedural and substantive.
“The NBA will investigate the conduct of the counsel involved in these cases and shall not hesitate to commence disciplinary action against them before the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee.
“The NBA shall continue to stand for and protect the integrity, welfare, and independence of the Bar and the Judiciary, we shall not hesitate to call out any Judge or counsel, who engages in professional misconduct.
“We have consistently maintained that the institution of the Judiciary must be guarded jealously by all (both within and outside the legal profession) including the other arms of Government (Executive and Legislature).
“The legal profession must at all times, resist any attempt to compromise its independence. We must bring erring members to book,” the statement explained.
Lantana Nasir
