NBA shuts down Cross River courts in protest

Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Cross River State on Monday shut down all high courts, magistrate courts and other courts in the state.

The legal practitioners took the action to protest the trial of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen.
Onnoghen’s trial over alleged asset declaration offence at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) started today (Monday). Though he was absent, 89 lawyers were present to defend him.

But the protesting lawyers in Cross River said they shut down courts in the state to support Nigerians including South-South governors who have condemned the development and are opposing it.

In its seven-point communiqué after an emergency general meeting held in Calabar, the state NBA said, “The three branches of the NBA in the State have observed with dismay the ongoing unconstitutional attempt by the executive arm of the federal government of Nigeria to coerce, intimidate and desecrate the judicial Arm of the government vide the proposed arraignment of the CJN.”

The communiqué was signed by NBA chairmen of Calabar, Ogoja and Ikom branches, Emmanuel Idaka, Daniel Ofre Okulo and Ojong Agbor respectively.

Others who appended their signatories include Ntufam Mba E. Ukweni (SAN), Elder E.O.E. Ekong, Nsikak Ikpeme, Marc Enahme, Hon Mark Obi, Leo Murphy, Williams Anwan, F. O. Onyebueke, Nkoyo Amah, Chief Orok Oyo, James Ofem.

“We wholly adopt the position of the NBA on the issue as contained in the statement issued and signed by the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Chief Paul Usoro SAN.

“We condemned in its entirety the unlawful manner in which the federal government and its agencies have assaulted, ridiculed and degraded the revered office of the CJN and indeed the entire judiciary in the country by the orchestrated media trial of the CJN Justice W. S. N. Onnoghen.

“Whilst not condoning corruption in all it ramifications, we insist that, the rule of law must be followed by the federal government of Nigeria in its avowed fight against corruption, especially as it has to do with the proposed arraignment of the CJN or any other judicial officer in the federal republic of Nigeria as laid down in the locus classicus of Nganjiuva vs. Federal Republic of Nigeria 2017.

“It is pertinent to draw the attention of the initiators of this bizarre transaction to the fact that the removal of the Chief Justice of Nigeria is regulated by the mandatory provisions of section 292(1)(a)(1) of the constitution, 1999.

READ ALSO: CCT TRIAL: CJN Onnoghen to know fate Jan 22

“Democracy strives under the rule of law. The present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, having come to power under a constitutional democracy and not being a military dictatorship, must, in all its dealings with the citizens of Nigeria and other Arms of the government, abide by the rule of law,” the group said.

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