The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Mr Nyesom Wike, has called on the Body of Benchers to call the Nigerian Bar Association to order over the association’s unnecessary criticism of the judiciary.
He made the call when officials of the body, led by the Chairman, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), visited him in Abuja on Friday.
Wike said that the body should not sit and watch while the NBA and its members destroy the legal profession.
He said that some of the members of NBA, often without reading a judgement go on national television to condemn the judgement and criticise the judges adding that such actions have continued with no sanction.
“If you don’t discipline somebody, nobody will learn any lesson.
“We shall no longer allow our profession to be pulled down. I cannot believe as a lawyer, you make a contribution to help the legal profession and you will be criticised by your fellow lawyers.”
The FCT Minister said that the constant taunting of judges and justices had made them avoid attending social gatherings or going to church or mosque for fear of being accused of collecting bribes.
He added that judges could no longer shake people’s hands freely and a lawyer would accuse them of collecting bribes.
“We are so scared of our judges to a point that a judge is going to a mosque or church but cannot greet somebody he knows.
“He runs away before he will shake somebody and people will start saying he collected a bride; bribery is given in the church; bribery is given in a mosque?” the Minister asked.
He also accused the NBA of describing any support rendered by the executive arm of government to the judicial arm as a bribe.
Wike said that when NBA was building its National Secretariat, the leadership wrote to the executive for support, adding that nobody saw that as a bribe.
“I was the only one who contributed to the NBA to build the National Secretariat, the NBA didn’t see it as a bribe.
“When you contribute to the Body of Benchers it is a bribe but when you contribute to NBA is not a bribe, they will take it.
“The same NBA will rely on state governments to sponsor their activities but when the state government supports the judiciary it is bribery,” he added.
The Minister also faulted the NBA’s stand that the declaration of state of emergency in Rivers by President Bola Tinubu was unconstitutional and illegal.
He alleged that the NBA’s discredit the President’s decision because the Rivers Government had promised to host their annual general conference.
Wike added that the association did not support the declaration of the state of emergency because there would be no money to give to the NBA for the conference.
“Sir, time has come that we need to say look, enough is enough. We cannot continue to discourage our judges and justices. It is not done anywhere.
“I have never seen where members of a profession are the ones that are bent on bringing the profession down,” he added.
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