Media attacks against judiciary unnecessary, pure mischief – Lawyers

Senior legal practitioners in the country under the aegis of Lawyers in Defence of Justice, LiDoF, have flayed what they termed ‘unwarranted attacks’ on the integrity of the judiciary, and particularly, the Heads of Federal Courts in Nigeria.

The lawyers, in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, described as unfortunate, alleged attempt to drag the judiciary into the murky waters of Nigerian politics, especially the political crisis rocking Rivers State.

Decrying that some of those involved in the campaign of calumny are “people expected to know how courts function,” the group, said it would not hesitate to drag them before the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee, LPDC, for punitive actions.

LiDoF, in the statement that was jointly signed by its Executive Director, Mr Silas Igwuebe, and Secretary, Boniface Olufade, equally urged the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, to wield the big stick against legal practitioners that vilify judges in the media.

“We have noted with utmost dismay, the continued attack on the judiciary by people that were ordinarily expected to know better.

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“These attacks have become too many that, as lawyers and ministers in the temple of justice, we can no longer close our eyes and overlook these unabated attempts to desecrate our temple.

“It is even most unfortunate that some of those championing this campaign to discredit the judiciary by painting our judicial officers black in the media, are senior members of the Bar.

“For instance, while it is the administrative duty of every Chief Judge (CJ) to assign cases to judges under his court, it is not the responsibility of such CJ to dictate to any judge, how to conduct cases before his court.

“As an example, there are only 13 judges that are currently serving in the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court and our findings have revealed that cases relating to the political crisis in Rivers State, were duly assigned by the Chief Judge of the Court.

“The assignment of multiple cases to the same judge already entertaining such matters that concern the same subject matter and parties, is not only appropriate but also in line with international best practice.

“This practice does not only enhance case management, it helps to stop the preponderance of conflicting orders and judgements.

“Also, the process to get a judge to recuse himself from a matter is well laid out in the Rules of Court, and not through media statements, accusing the Chief Judge of bias or trying to bully him to transfer cases to preferred judges or jurisdictions.

“It is further ridiculous to suggest that judges could be bought over through a housing scheme that they are ordinarily entitled to.

“From all indications, the said project belongs to the Federal Government of Nigeria and not the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, who is only in office at the pleasure of the President and can be removed even before the houses are completed.

“Has anyone been named as the owner of any of the yet to be built houses? What is the guarantee that a judge currently serving in Abuja would not be transferred or even retire from service before the houses are ready?

“For the records, this is not the first time that this sort of owner-occupier housing scheme was initiated for judges. It has been operational in Lagos State for decades now and some of the senior lawyers attacking Federal Judges presently have not stopped filing cases in Lagos for fear of bias, or even spoken against it at any time.

“We, therefore, wonder what has changed. While judicial officers at the Court of Appeal and FCT High Court are billed to benefit from the said housing scheme, it is suspect that vilification of Judges of the Federal High Court has been more vociferous .

“While we urge those involved in this mischief that is calculated to mislead the gullible, to retrace their steps, we have, as an association of lawyers, resolved to take necessary actions, should these unnecessary attacks on the judiciary, continue,” the statement read.