Anambra 2021: NBA Executive Commends Justice Nwosu-Iheme On Sanctioning Erring Lawyer
Monday Ubani, Chairman Nigeria Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Laws (NBA) SPIDEL, has commended Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme of the Appeal Court for recommending punishment for all the legal professionals who have erred in the various electoral cases in Anambra State.
Ubani who berated lawyers for unprofessional conduct said that it was unfortunate that such electoral imbroglio as seen in Anambra State electoral cases were carried out by senior lawyers in the rank of Senior Advocates of Nigeria stressing that such lawyers usually escape disciplinary measures of NBA over the years.
He said “The resultant effect is that cases of more bizarre nature are being filed regularly with impunity by these category of lawyers.Take for instance the All Progressive Grand Alliance(APGA) primary gubernatorial election case that has just ended at the court of Appeal in Awka this week. The journey of the case started somewhere in Jigawa State, that is several hundreds of kilometres away from Anambra the state that has territorial jurisdiction to decide the matter. The lawyer and the judge that decided on the case knew that Jigawa State High Court didn’t have territorial jurisdiction but went ahead to decide the case not minding the consequence of such brazen decision that is fatally flawed.
Ubani in a press statement on Sunday said, “As if that was not enough, another set of lawyers and a judge this time around, somewhere in Imo State as “undertakers” undertook to decide the APGA leadership matter that should be decided in Anambra State affirming one Jude Okeke as APGA acting Chairman while one Chukwuma Umeoji was declared as the “authentic” gubernatorial candidate for the November 2021 gubernatorial election. A High court in Ananbra presided over by Justice Charles Okaa corrected these anomalies and upheld the recognition of former Central Bank Governor, Charles Soludo as the authentic APGA candidate in the November 6 gubernatorial election in the State.”
Anambra 2021: NBA Executive Commends Justice Nwosu-Iheme On Sanctioning Erring Lawyer
The former second vice president of NBA said that it was disheartening that the opponent brought a motion seeking to stop execution of the order of Justice Charles Okaa.
While commending Nwosu-Iheme for her action, Ubani said that the impunity gave ample room to Justice Nwosu-Iheme of the Court of Appeal Awka an opportunity she never wasted, to lash out at the erring legal professionals who, according to her, go from one part of the country to another in search of judgements to enable some politicians run for public office, for what she called “forum shopping” in legal parlance.
“Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme of the court of Appeal consequently demanded punishment for Justice Ubale of Birnin Kudu, Jigawa State and his counterpart in the Imo State Judiciary, Justice B.C. Iheka for what she aptly described as their unprofessional conduct by dabbling into the Anambra State gubernatorial election controversy and gave consequential judgements on it. She also sought that the lawyers who took the cases to the State High Courts in Jigawa and Imo States be disciplined for professional misconduct,” he said.
The lawyer insisted that disciplinary measures as recommended by her Lordship be commenced by the authorities in NBA and National Judicial Council to act as a check to the incessant embarrament the legal profession is presently facing in all spheres, and caused by those who supposed to know and observe the ethics of the profession whether at the Bench or at the Bar.
“I must commend the courage, integrity and the upholding of the public good that these profound pronouncement by the Learned jurist has brought to the entire judiciary and perhaps the country. We can heave a sigh of relief knowing fully well that there are still remnants in Nigeria that can stand and speak truth to the nation irrespective of whose ox is gored.
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