The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has threatened to fish out corrupt judicial officers in renewed moves to cleanse the nation judiciary and defend its integrity. The association however said it will go all out to protect judicial officers from unmerited and unnecessary malicious attacks by unscrupulous elements.
President of the NBA, Mr. Yakubu Maikyau spoke in Abuja at a reception dinner held in his honour by the Nigeria Law School Class of 88/89.
He lamented that unlike other arms of government, the judiciary is usually circumvented in engaging with or responding to unwelcome commentary.
Maikyau disclosed that under his watch, the NBA will do everything within the ambit of the law to defend the integrity of the judiciary.
The NBA President wondered that recent days have seen some very scandalous allegations made against Judges that not seem to be wholly and entirely fabricated, meritless and without any proof but also deeply scandalous and extremely problematic.
He noted that” the primary responsibility of lawyers is to wark towards achieving justice. Justice is fundamental because without justice, no society can exist.
“Let us speak up against injustice and corruption. As we are keeping queit we are hurting the society. We speak up against any attempt to tag our Judges as corrupt.
We must continue to protect the integrity of the judiciary and for the independence of the judiciary,” Maikyau admonished.
He however vowed that the NBA will not hesitate to deal with any judicial officer found wanting in conduct.
Maikyau said the association will explore all disciplinary measures to ensure that such judicial officer is floush out of the system.
Speaking earlier at the well- attended event, a Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Amina Augie, who delivered the dinner lecture, harped on the need for the Bar and the Bench to work harmoniously towards achieving justice.
“The Bar and the Bench should work together towards the achieving Justice. A society where justice prevail, will have peace and not chaos.
” We need justice in the true sense of the word. We need to institutionalized justice to achieve peace and tranquility, ” Justice Augie urged.
The jurist who described Maikyau as a brilliant and hardworking professional said she was not surprised that he has raised to his present position in his career.
In his speech, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola poured encomiums on the NBA president, while attesting to his good character.
The Governor of Kebbi State, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu and his Jigawa State counterpart, Mohammad Abubakar, in there separate remarks, described Yakubu Maikyau as a great philantropists whose charity works in the states have touched and lifted many lives.
The President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, the President of the National Industrial Court, Justice Benedict Kangyip, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, Supreme Court justices among others were equally in attendance at the dinner.
The event was graced by the legal community, politicians and captains of industry cut across the country.
Source: The Sun
