A group, under the auspices of Centre for Reform and Public Advocacy, has urged the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) to immediately sanction some lawyers over their alleged baseless and continued attacks on the judiciary and its judges.
The Director of Legal Services of the group, Mr Kalu Agu, made the call during a briefing with newsmen on Friday in Abuja.
Agu, a legal practitioner, also called on the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to ensure its members uphold judicial integrity, promote public trust in the justice system and educate clients and the public on the judicial process.
He warned Ikenga Ugochinyere, a member of the House of Representatives, and Prof Chidi Odinkalu, to refrain from uncomplimentary remarks against judicial officers in the country.
He expressed concern that such attacks would not only undermine the rule of law but also erode public trust in the institutions.
“Regrettably, these incessant attacks on Nigeria’s judiciary are being championed by so many lawyers.
“These lawyers descend heavily on judges and attack their character after losing cases in courts.
“This unprofessional conduct must stop.
“This harmful practice undermines the very foundation of our justice system.
“We, therefore, call on the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee to take actions against lawyers who indulge in this harmful practice of attacking judges in Nigeria,” he said.
Agu said the group had looked into the reasons being advanced by some of the lawyers and individuals as basis to launch the attacks against the judges and had come to the conclusions that “the attacks are needless, baseless and unwarranted.”
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“It is imperative that we recognise the judiciary’s role as the guardian of justice and the protector of our constitutional rights,” he added.
He stressed the need for a collective action to safeguard the independence and integrity of the judiciary, warning that “If we fail to address these attacks, we risk plunging our nation into chaos, anarchy and lawlessness”.
According to him, judges render verdicts based on evidence and legal precedents before them.
Agu admitted that though disagreement with judgments delivered by judges is natural, he said that “violence, blackmail and intimidation of judges are unacceptable.”
He said decency and decorum must not be thrown to the wind under the guise of fighting for clients.
“While we conceded that they have a fundamental right to freedom of speech, it is unethical for any lawyer to engage in dragging the judiciary into murky water.
“We, therefore, with the greatest respect, call on the Nigerian Bar Association to rise to the occasion and sanction erring lawyers who attack judges to massage their ego after losing cases in court,” he said.
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