The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has cautioned legal practitioners in the country and the public to desist from intemperate languages against judges following the judgement of the Federal High Court sitting in Umuahia, Abia State, the ordered the removal of Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act with immediate effect.
The NBA President, Olumide Akpata, in a statement acknowledged that the NBA has observed certain unsavoury remarks made about the Judgment and the person of Hon. Justice Evelyn Anyadike by some Nigerians, including members of the Bar. The association called for restraint from derogatory statements against the judge or the court after judgements.
The NBA President declared: “The NBA wishes to call on Nigerians and especially legal practitioners, to refrain from employing intemperate language to characterise Judgments and/or Judges of our Courts. The Rules of Professional Conduct and the ethics that regulate our profession enjoin us to treat our Courts and Judges with the utmost respect.
“We must reiterate that there are legal and constitutional avenues to challenge unfavourable Judgments and lawyers and indeed the generality of Nigerians are therefore enjoined to explore these avenues rather than resorting to unwarranted and counterproductive attacks on Judges and the Judiciary.”
Apata also enjoined the courts in Nigeria to follow due process in the execution of their duties to mitigate any form of breakdown of law and order, which, he said, is certain to occur when the generality of Nigeria ultimately lose confidence in the court system.
Akpata further declared: “Consequently, the NBA will immediately apply for the certified copies of the Judgment, the process filed, and the record of proceedings in the case, from the Federal High Court, Umuahia, and thereafter decide on the next appropriate steps.
“In the meantime, we once again call on Nigerians in general, and lawyers in particular, to exercise restraint and decorum in commenting on these significant legal developments.”
Section 84 (12) of the amended Electoral Act 2021 stipulates that “no political appointee at any level shall be a voting delegate or be voted for at the Convention or Congress of any political party for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election.”