A civic group, the Center For Public Accountability, has said it will drag six legal practitioners before the Legal Disciplinary Committee for alleged misconduct and cyber-bullying of judicial officers.
The civil society group disclosed this in resolution issued on Tuesday at the end of its 64th Extraordinary General Meeting in Abuja, the Nigeria’s capital territory.
In the communique signed by the group’s Executive Director, Akindele Olufemi-Lawson, the civil society disclosed that names of the affected six lawyers had compiled, which it said would be submitted to the Disciplinary Committee with evidence of misconduct and cyber-bullying of judges.
Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee of the Body of Benchers was established by Section 11 of the Legal Practitioners Act as amended by Decree No. 21 of 1994.
The committee functions include considerations and determinations of allegations of misbehaviour by persons whose names are on the roll in their capacity as legal practitioners. Appeals from their decisions lie to the Supreme Court. Section 9 of Decree 21 of 1994.
The group noted that since public attention had shifted to the judiciary that was handling pre and post-election matters as different political parties and candidates were challenging election results across the country, this had brought unwarranted pressure and harassment to several judicial officers, particularly the Supreme Court Justices.
“We have noticed how some justices have been harassed in recent times because of their involvement in pre and post-election disputes. People have taken political battles from the street to the court with the plan to overrule and bring our court to disrepute. It is even incomprehensible that lawyers, who are supposed to know better, are also involved,” the group lamented.
While the names of affected lawyers that are passing disparaging comments against the judges and court had been penned down to be submitted to LPC, names of those who are not lawyers who have committed same offence, have been submitted to the security agents for investigation and possible prosecution, the group added.
“Enough is enough of how people always blame the judiciary for the mistake and misfortunes of politicians. It is inexplicable that some individuals have gone as far as posting pictures, profiles and phone numbers of the Supreme Court judges for people to call and shame them.
“Recently, a senior lawyer used crude words to describe the judgment of the Supreme Court, while another one posted a photo of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, in a wheelchair claiming that the Justice disguised himself at the airport, which he later pulled down with apologies.
“And just last week, another senior lawyer delayed a Lagos-bound flight for his objection to the inauguration of President-Elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
The organisation said it would nonetheless strictly adhere to the disciplinary committee by not publishing the names of lawyers concerned until the committee begins its proceedings.
It said, “As a law-abiding non-profit making institution and corporate citizens, we will be guided by the committee guidelines before we release their names to the public since we have briefed our lawyers to submit our petition to the Disciplinary Committee.”
“We must ensure public accountability and as well protect the sanctity of the judiciary because an encumbered and endangered judiciary cannot ensure accountability and independence of the judicial process.”
The group, however, warned that the blanket accusation of corruption against the judiciary must stopped, adding “such accusation must be direct and specific, and any judge found wanting must be singularly dealt with according to law.”
