By Shittu Tanko
The Integrity Group of Nigerian Lawyers, IGNL, said the controversy among lawyers over the suspension of Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Walter Onnoghen, is exposing the “legal profession to ridicule.”
The group, in a statement by its spokesperson, Audu bulama-bukarti, said the NBA’s call to boycott courts should be discarded, adding that the move has also called into question the integrity of all lawyers including those in the making.
“Therefore, on behalf of members of this IGNL group, we view this as an attempt to stop and discourage one single person from facing the law.
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“We wish to make it categorically clear that NBA’s position is not a reflection of the collective opinion of its members.
“The leadership of NBA should retrace its steps 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 known procedures in our laws especially in resolving confusion such as the present one.
“NBA’s position is simply a reflection of the personal interest of few people and it is undemocratic. In addition, it portrays our noble NBA as shielding suspects from justice.
“The action of NBA on this matter is a clog in the wheel of justice and must be reviewed.
“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.
“Ordinarily, the judiciary is the pendulum that holds every society together under the roof of Justice.
“And, no country will attain justice if the institution saddled with the responsibility of protecting the sanctity of laws and the promotion of sanity in the society is marred with corruption; such that the system shields corrupt officials through the creation of uncertainties and unnecessary technicalities in the courts.
“Examples are the cases of Joseph Nwobike (formerly SAN), Justice Umezulike of Court of Appeal and Kabiru Auta among several others, who were convicted and sentenced for corruption related cases,” they narrated.
The group further said: “The damning allegations against his Lordship the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria- Walter Onnoghen and his open admission thereof has further put to test the ability of the Judiciary and by extension the entire legal profession to regulate and discipline itself.
“It has also called into question the integrity of all of us as lawyers including those in the making,” they added.
“More troubling is the fact that before and after the order of suspension of Justice Onnoghen by the Code of Conduct Tribunal the over-reactions of lawyers on both sides where based on technicalities and nobody was bold enough to ask the CJN to submit himself to the test of Justice that he heads and administer.
“With all these 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 the man’s open admission on the allegations against him,” the group stated.
