The NBA Is Taking The Bribe Allegations Against Kano Lawyers Seriously- Habeeb Lawal
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has instructed its branch in Kano State to seek out the identity of the senior lawyer who allegedly sought to bribe the Chairman of the Governorship Election Tribunal, Justice Flora Azinge.
Information reaching The Metro Lawyer (TML) indicates that the NBA President, Yakubu Maikyau, OON, SAN has reached out to the Kano branch of the association to get further information and begin investigation for possible sanctions over the professional misconduct.
Justice Flora Azinge had expressed anger over attempts by an unnamed Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) to bribe her. Speaking in open court before the commencement of a tribunal session in Kano, the judge said senior lawyers particularly engage in the unethical practice.
Reacting to the bribery attempt allegation, the National Publicity Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Lawal Habeeb who spoke on Arise TV programme, “News Night” had this to say, “The situation is quite profound and the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association is concerned by that allegation. The allegation is not coming from social media, nor a news stand. It is coming from inside the courts by a judge of repute. Incidentally, Justice Azinge sits here in Asaba where I am at present and she is one of the shining lights in the judiciary. And because we trust what she has said, being a judge of high repute, that is why the leadership of the Nigerian Bar, led by the President, Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, SAN immediately swung into action and we have directed the Kano branch of the NBA to reach out to my lord to get further details and particulars of any lawyer who has done this.”
He assured Nigerians that any lawyer who is found culpable for the act will be punished, restating the fact that the Nigerian legal profession is one that prides itself as being self-regulatory, with quite a number of lawyers having been disciplined for impropriety.
“As a Bar, we are committed to ensuring that the bad eggs that we can determine, after going through all the processes amongst us, are weeded out, because the independence of the Judiciary and of course the sanctity of the legal profession is very important for the progress and benefit of Nigerians,” he said.
Stating that such allegations are bothersome, Lawal however stressed the importance of understanding and appreciating the narrative that all lawyers are not corrupt and in fact many lawyers and judges stand for the rule of law and justice.
He also used the recent case of the Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC in Adamawa State who acted outside his powers in the recently concluded governorship elections in the state, to buttress the fact that the NBA disciplines erring lawyers by petitioning them to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee, in cases of professional misconduct and if found culpable, could be struck off the roll of legal practitioners or prosecuted, where a crime is committed.
