NBA sets up team to monitor judges’ trials

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has set up a team of senior lawyers to keep watch on the ongoing trials of judges across the country.

The General Secretary of the Association, Isiaka Olagunju disclosed this in a recent post on the association’s website titled ‘Titbits on NBA/CJN parley as the Bar pays courtesy visit on the Supreme Court.’ This came after the association’s president, Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN) led an NBA entourage on a visit to the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen.

A lawyer, Mr. Kola Omotinugbon had on February 8 appeared as a representative of NBA in Justice Ademola’s trial before Justice Jude Okeke of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Maitama.

He announced his appearance after the prosecuting and defense lawyers had announced their appearances. He disclosed that he was representing the NBA on a watching brief in the trial. He produced a letter to back his claim after the trial judge asked him if he had any evidence.

While much detail was not given by the NBA scribe on the monitoring team, the publication said “the NBA is seriously concerned about the arrest and arraignment of some senior judicial officers for corrupt practices. We have, therefore, constituted a team of senior counsel to hold watching briefs on behalf of the NBA in the ongoing trial.”

Following the Department of State Services’ raid on judicial officers’ houses October last year, the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation had filed charges of alleged corruption against two of the judges – Justice Sylvester Ngwuta of the Supreme Court and Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court.

Also, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission subsequently filed similar charges against Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia before a Lagos High Court.

Olagunju disclosed that other issues discussed at the meeting were the appointment of the substantive CJN, corruption in the judiciary, the reform of the National Judicial Council (NJC), and appointment of the legal practitioners to the Supreme Court bench.

He said the Bar and the Bench are like Siamese twins. “The relationship should be based on mutual respect and understanding. The judiciary cannot get the desired respect and confidence of Nigerians if the Bar does not support and respect the Bench.

“It is very disheartening that some lawyers now commit contempt ex-facia curia (in the face of the court) with impunity. If the Bar disrespects the Bench, it is destroying the entire legal profession”, he said.

He said the visit also discussed the issue of lawyers arguing cases in the media. “Lawyers now constitute themselves to panels in electronic media to pre-empt, discuss and analyze judgments. This is unwholesome attitude is unacceptable. Erring lawyers should face disciplinary measures forthwith,”he said.