Politics

Yes, the judiciary is corrupt, NBA concedes

Published

7 years ago

November 25, 2016

The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has finally owned up and accepted that corruption is ravaging the Nigerian judicial system.

The body of lawyers in the country admitted that the Bar and bench have their own share of corrupt practices but vowed to confront it headlong.

The judiciary has come under intense scrutiny since the night raid on the homes of some senior judges in the country by the Department of State Services, DSS.

Speaking in Minna, the Niger State capital on Thursday, the President of NBA, Abubakar Balarabe, said the association was aware of the declining state of the profession but said it would continue to be the voice of the voiceless and protect the independence and integrity of the profession.

Seven judges, including two justices of the Supreme Court, who were alleged to be involved in corrupt practices and professional misconduct, were arrested and detained by the DSS, with the Federal Government charging some of them to court, including Justice Sylvester Ogwuta.

The NBA had initially spoken critically against the invasion of the judges residence and called for a state of emergency in the judiciary but later softened its stance and called for the accused judges to step down pending their prosecution.

Read also: Reps reply Obj’s bite, call him grandfather of corruption

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, however faulted the initial response of the NBA, insisted that it is aware of the widespread corruption in the judiciary and actually knows those who are neck deep in corrupt practices.

Abubakar said: “We are conscious of the declining state of the legal profession, considering the challenges and myriad of problems we are facing, but NBA will not abdicate its responsibility.

“We will continue to be the voice of the voiceless, we will speak for the judiciary and protect the independence and integrity of the legal profession, both the Bar and the Bench, just as we intend to fight and fish out the bad eggs in the system.

“NBA will always cooperate with the Federal Government to fish out bad eggs but this should be done in accordance with due process and the rule of Law.”

He however indicated that there are a huge number of frivolous petitions against judges by lawyers,. This, he said, would be investigated, adding that serious actions awaited any lawyer found to have been involved in any sort of frivolous petition against any judge.

By Timothy Enietan-Matthews….

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Click to comment

Roland Uchendu Pele

November 25, 2016 at 9:11 am

“NBA will always cooperate with the Federal Government to fish out bad eggs but this should be done in accordance with due process and the rule of Law.”

This is rather ironical. The FG is supposed to ‘cooperate’ with the NBA and not the other way round!

Reply
Johnson Amadi

November 25, 2016 at 9:42 am

NBA should be blamed for corruption in the judiciary. It appears the association is not doing enough to vet its members, hence, they are all misbehaving and think they have the constitutional rights to do and undo. RUBBISH!

Reply
- Nonso Ezeugo
  
  November 25, 2016 at 3:48 pm
  
  Why should the NBA be blame what about our leader buhari who has decided to follow corruption to the fullest.not minding what become of this country. Less use our head before passing blame
  
  Reply
  - Emmanuel Alayegbami
    
    November 25, 2016 at 5:05 pm
    
    How has buhari followed corruption? It’s you that should use your sense when saying arrant no sense and nonsense.
    
    Reply
Margret Dickson

November 25, 2016 at 9:43 am

This is a great shame on the NBA, the judiciary is supposed to be at the forefront of war against corruption, but it is miserable, they have more corrupt victims.

Reply
yanju omotodun

November 25, 2016 at 12:31 pm

Enough of all hurling insults at the judiciary. In short, we are all corrupts. NBA is corrupt, you and I are corrupt. In short we trend in a corrupt country.

Reply
- JOHNSON PETER
  
  November 25, 2016 at 1:22 pm
  
  Who can be as corrupt as lawyers ? Lawyers who will see white and call it black as long you can perfect their brief. Judges are corrupt
  Senators are corrupt, Executives are corrupt, ASUU are corrupt, Bankers are corrupt, soldiers are corrupt, politicians are corrupt. In short I am corrupt too.
  
  Reply
  - Amarachi Okoye
    
    November 25, 2016 at 3:41 pm
    
    Hahahah is like you don’t know what you are saying how can you say everybody is corrupted when you and i know that not all lawyer is corrupt. My brother who is a lawyer is not because his a man of God.so refear that corruption to your side ok
    
    Reply
    - seyi jelili
      
      November 25, 2016 at 4:43 pm
      
      Onyiara.
      Arrant nonsense. Your lawyer brother is not known so I might not say anything. Am sure your brother has never won a case before. He is part of this charge and bail lawyer.
      
      Reply
      - Balarabe musa
        
        November 25, 2016 at 5:25 pm
        
        Haaaaa. Lol
        Why are you saying her brother is a pauper lawyer?
        
        Chai!!! There is God o.