With regards to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) directive recently for a boycott of Courts by its members (Nigerian lawyers), to protest against the suspension of the now former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen, I believe it was a directive that would amount to nothing, as it carries no weight to either affect the Federal Government and the Presidency in any way. As such, it was totally uncalled for and should not have taken place in the first instance.
Aside the fact that since the directive was given by the NBA this week Monday, after its emergency Executive Meeting, many Nigerian lawyers and Branches of the NBA across the country, have ignored and declined to be part of the said boycott. It was reported that normal Court activities went on today, Wednesday 30/01/19, in the Court of Appeal, Federal High Court FCT, and the High Court in Maitama Abuja. The NBA should understand that its boycott of courts will not in any way affect the Nigerian Federal Government, or make them change their mind on certain issues.
If it was a boycott by Nigerian Doctors, Nurses and health workers, such action will definitely affect everyone, including the Government. But not a boycott of the courts by the NBA. Rather, such a boycott from the courts by the NBA will only affect them and their clients. The lawyers will not get briefs, transportation cost for court cases and any other patronage. Their clients will suffer more, especially those unlawfully being detained. So, the NBA boycott of courts will only affect them more and the common masses that have cases in court to answer, and not the Government. In other words, the NBA action is fruitless and totally uncalled for.
I believe there are better ways the NBA can address issues like the situation with Onnoghen. They ought to handle it legally through the appropriate channels of the law. And not resort to this so called boycott of courts. This was how our dear legendary Gani Fawehinmi, refused to obey a similar directive by the NBA to boycott the courts/tribunals during the military era of Buhari/Idiagbon. Gani believed defending his clients in the tribunals/courts should have come first, and not following the directive to boycott the courts/tribunals in protest of any Government action. But most importantly, I believe the NBA, because of what it represents and stands for in the country, should be seen as not being a ‘Political Association’ or turned into one.
The NBA, at all times should be seen to stand over board in using the appropriate legal channel to address any issue in the polity and at all levels of Government. They should not allow themselves to be used by any means. The NBA also needs to weigh the gravity of the allegations against Onnoghen before taking sides in the controversy of due process or no due process. The said allegations against Onnogehn, allegedly committed by him, were not done with due process as well.
The NBA protest will further rubbish the image of Nigerian Judiciary if caution is not taken. Fighting for this kind of controversial corruption allegation matter is not what the international community should hear about the Nigerian Judiciary and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). There is an adage in Urhobo land that says “If you support a lazy man in a physical fight, the man will disgrace you because he will not even stagger before falling”. Leaders of the NBA should be mindful of the kind of fight they drag the association into especially when their chairman is also having corruption allegations on his head. That is how I see this issue.
Zik Gbemre.
National Coordinator
Niger Delta Peace Coalition (NDPC)
