President Muhammadu Buhari has asked the Nigerian Bar
Association, NBA, to work with the government to avert the collapse
of public confidence in the justice system of the country.
Speaking while receiving the National Executive Committee, NEC,
of the NBA at the State House on Thursday in Abuja, the president
warned that a collapse of public confidence in the justice system
will have disastrous consequences for the entire country.
“Let me reiterate that the collapse of public confidence in the
justice system will have disastrous effects on our democracy and
will negatively affect the capacity of the legal profession to
thrive and flourish in the country,” he said.
In making a request to the NBA to ensure the highest form of
discipline among its members, President Buhari charged the body to
ensure that all cases of indiscipline and corruption are tackled
effectively.
He expressed worries about allegations of the roles of some
senior lawyers in attempts to corrupt judges and the judicial
system.
President Buhari also gave assurances that his administration
will continue to operate on a foundation of the Rule of Law.
According to him, “We are convinced that corruption and impunity
flourish when due process mechanisms are disregarded. We, however,
expect a corresponding duty on the part of all professional bodies
such as the NBA to ensure the highest forms of discipline among
their members”.
The president urged the members of the legal profession, whom he
described as opinion builders in their various communities, to work
for the public enlightenment of the citizenry, and to support the
initiatives of government in sanitizing the public services,
improving standards of public accountability and the insistence on
the normal standards of judicial integrity.
He emphasised that government will continue to dwell on its
programmes of a vigorous anti-corruption campaign; ensuring the
recovery of looted national assets; prosecution of an effective and
sustainable anti-terrorism war; and the institutionalization of law
and order in all aspects of our national life.
President Buhari thanked the members of the NBA for their
support so far, and urged them to do more in that regard.
He noted concerns raised by the NBA president and assured of his
readiness to work with the bar association and the judiciary to
achieve needed reforms.
In his remarks, the President of the NBA, Abubakar Mahmud,
commended President Buhari for his confidence in the members of the
association, considering the number of lawyers in high places in
the administration.
These included the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo; the Secretary
to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; the Chief of
Staff to the President, Abba Kyari; the Attorney-General of
Federation, Abubakar Malami; and five other ministers as well as
the Permanent Secretary in the State House, Jalal Arabi.
The NBA President also lauded the administration for its
efforts, and expressed the Bar’s continued support in the war
against corruption, terrorism and general insecurity as well as the
ongoing work to institute good governance and revamp the
economy.
He, however, brought to the attention of President Buhari, NBA’s
concerns on prisons’ congestion, the need for compliance with
judicial decisions and the modus operandi of some of the
anti-corruption agencies.
President Muhammadu Buhari has asked the Nigerian Bar
Association, NBA, to work with the government to avert the collapse
of public confidence in the justice system of the country.
Speaking while receiving the National Executive Committee, NEC,
of the NBA at the State House on Thursday in Abuja, the president
warned that a collapse of public confidence in the justice system
will have disastrous consequences for the entire country.
“Let me reiterate that the collapse of public confidence in the
justice system will have disastrous effects on our democracy and
will negatively affect the capacity of the legal profession to
thrive and flourish in the country,” he said.
In making a request to the NBA to ensure the highest form of
discipline among its members, President Buhari charged the body to
ensure that all cases of indiscipline and corruption are tackled
effectively.
He expressed worries about allegations of the roles of some
senior lawyers in attempts to corrupt judges and the judicial
system.
President Buhari also gave assurances that his administration
will continue to operate on a foundation of the Rule of Law.
According to him, “We are convinced that corruption and impunity
flourish when due process mechanisms are disregarded. We, however,
expect a corresponding duty on the part of all professional bodies
such as the NBA to ensure the highest forms of discipline among
their members”.
The president urged the members of the legal profession, whom he
described as opinion builders in their various communities, to work
for the public enlightenment of the citizenry, and to support the
initiatives of government in sanitizing the public services,
improving standards of public accountability and the insistence on
the normal standards of judicial integrity.
He emphasised that government will continue to dwell on its
programmes of a vigorous anti-corruption campaign; ensuring the
recovery of looted national assets; prosecution of an effective and
sustainable anti-terrorism war; and the institutionalization of law
and order in all aspects of our national life.
President Buhari thanked the members of the NBA for their
support so far, and urged them to do more in that regard.
He noted concerns raised by the NBA president and assured of his
readiness to work with the bar association and the judiciary to
achieve needed reforms.
In his remarks, the President of the NBA, Abubakar Mahmud,
commended President Buhari for his confidence in the members of the
association, considering the number of lawyers in high places in
the administration.
These included the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo; the Secretary
to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; the Chief of
Staff to the President, Abba Kyari; the Attorney-General of
Federation, Abubakar Malami; and five other ministers as well as
the Permanent Secretary in the State House, Jalal Arabi.
The NBA President also lauded the administration for its
efforts, and expressed the Bar’s continued support in the war
against corruption, terrorism and general insecurity as well as the
ongoing work to institute good governance and revamp the
economy.
He, however, brought to the attention of President Buhari, NBA’s
concerns on prisons’ congestion, the need for compliance with
judicial decisions and the modus operandi of some of the
anti-corruption agencies.