Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike has faulted the Nigeria Bar Association’s (NBA) position that President Bola Tinubu's declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers was unconstitutional and illegal.
Wike alleged that the NBA discredited Tinubu’s decision because the Rivers Government had promised to host their annual general conference.
The minister stated this when the Body of Benchers officials, led by its Chairman, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), visited him in Abuja on Friday.
He 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.
“What kind of hypocrisy is this?” he queried.
The minister called on the Body of Benchers to call the NBA to order over the association’s unnecessary criticism of the judiciary.
He said the body should not sit and watch while the NBA and its members destroy the legal profession.
He said that some NBA members often, without reading a judgement, go on national television to condemn the judgment and criticise the judges.
He said 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, that you make a contribution to help the legal profession, and your fellow lawyers will criticise you.
“Sir, the time has come 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 said.
The minister also accused the NBA of describing any support rendered by the executive arm of government to the judicial arm as a bribe.
Wike recalled that when the 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 they will take it; when you contribute to the NBA, it is not a bribe.
“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.
Wike 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 molestation.
He added that judges could no longer shake people’s hands freely because lawyers would accuse them of collecting bribes.
“It has gotten to the stage where our judges are so scared of going to a mosque or church or even greeting somebody they know because of fear of bribery.
“They run away from shaking people’s hands because they will start accusing them of collecting bride. This must stop,” he said.
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