A civil society group, Center For Public Accountability, has risen from its 64th Extraordinary General Meeting in Abuja and passed a resolution to, among others, send a petition against six legal practitioners to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee of the Body of Benchers for gross misconduct, and cyberbullying of judicial officers.
A press release issued on Tuesday in Abuja by the body’s Executive Director, Akindele Olufemi-Lawson, disclosed that the Group reviewed the manner at which some lawyers who serve in the Temple of Justice have been defiling the sanctity of the Temple through frivolous claims and baseless accusations against top judicial officers, all with the aim of pulling them down.
Top among such defamed judicial officers Is the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, who, in the aftermath of the general elections, was accused by some people in the social media that he had paid a secret visit to the President-elect, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who, at the time, was holidaying in London after a hectic campaign.
Justice Olukayode Ariwoola was appointed Chief Justice of Nigeria on June 27, 2022, on an acting capacity following the resignation of the incumbent Chief Justice Tanko Muhammad. Ariwoola was confirmed Chief Justice by the Senate on September 21, 2022.
But in their press statement, the group revealed that they had “compiled names of six lawyers to be submitted to the Disciplinary Committee with evidence of misconduct and cyberbullying of judges. “
The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee of the Body of Benchers was established by Section 11 of the Legal Practitioners Act as amended by Decree No. 21 of 1994.
The committee’s functions include consideration and determination of allegations of misbehaviour by persons whose names are on the roll in their capacity as legal practitioners. Appeals from their decisions lie with the Supreme Court under Section 9 of Decree 21 of 1994.The Group maintained that public attention has shifted to the judiciary that is handling pre- and post-election matters as different political parties and candidates are challenging election results across the country.
The group said this has brought unwarranted pressure and harassment to many judicial officers, particularly the Supreme Court Justices.
“We have noticed how some justices have been harassed in recent times because of their involvement in pre and post-election disputes. People have taken political battles from the street to the court with the plan to overrule and bring our court to disrepute. It is even incomprehensible that lawyers, who are supposed to know better, are also involved.”
The group said it had identified and compiled the names of the six lawyers who reportedly made disparaging comments against the judges and the court of justice. It added that it had also submitted the names of those who are not lawyers to the security agents for investigation and possible prosecution.
“Enough is enough of people always always rushing to blame the judiciary for the mistake and misfortunes of politicians,” the release continued. “It is inexplicable that some individuals have gone as far as posting pictures, profiles and phone numbers of the Supreme Court judges for people to call and shame them.
“Recently,” Olufemi-Lawson recalled, “a senior lawyer used crude words to describe a judgment of the Supreme Court, while another one posted a photo of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, in a wheelchair claiming that the Justice disguised himself at the airport. But he later pulled down the fallacy with apologies.
“And just last week, another senior lawyer delayed a Lagos-bound flight for his objection to the inauguration of President-Elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
However, the Group said it will not publish the names of the six lawyers concerned until the disciplinary committee begins its proceedings.
It added: “As a law-abiding non-profit making institution and corporate citizens, we will be guided by the committee’s guidelines before we release their names to the public since we have briefed our lawyers to submit our petition to the Disciplinary Committee.”
“We must ensure public accountability and protect the sanctity of the judiciary as well because an encumbered and endangered judiciary cannot ensure accountability and independence of the judicial process.”
The group also warned that the recurring blanket accusation of corruption against the judiciary must stop. Such accusations must be direct and specific, and any judge found wanting must be singularly dealt with the full force of law.
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