Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has condemned the Nigeria Bar Association’s (NBA) stance on the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Wike alleged that the NBA discredited Tinubu’s decision because the Rivers State government under Governor Siminalayi Fubara had promised to host their annual general conference.
The Minister, a Life Bencher, made the allegation when officials of the Body of Benchers, led by its then-chairman, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja on Friday, remarking that the association did not support the declaration of a 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 that the body should not sit and watch while the NBA and its members destroy the legal profession.
He claimed that some members of the NBA go on national television to condemn the judgments and criticise judges without reading a judgment; actions which he said 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 you will be criticised by your fellow lawyers.
“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 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 when you contribute to NBA it 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.
Wike said that the constant taunting of Judges and Justices had made them to 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 that 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.
Originally published in Law & Society Magazine
