Viral Video: Paul Ananaba, SAN Asks NSCDC To Apologise To Judge

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Paul Ananaba, has asked the
Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to apologise to a
former acting Chief Judge of Kebbi State, Justice Elizabeth
Karatu.

This followed a viral video showing an NSCDC official barring
the judge from gaining entry into the court premises to deliver
judgement.

Reacting during his appearing on Channels Television’s Sunrise
Daily, Ananaba described the action of the security officer as
unacceptable.

He explained that Justice Karatu, by virtue of her position, was
the head and wondered why she should be barred from the court
premises.

“How can you lock a court premise? Is it a public holiday under
the Public Holidays Act?” he asked.

The senior advocate added, “I thought that an agency like the
Civil Defence should have come to apologise not just to the judge,
much more to the judiciary and the legal profession.

“I think what has happened based on the response of the Civil
Defence is not acceptable. The Chief Judge of any state or the
Federation is the head of the court.”

In the video which went viral recently, the NSCDC official
informed Justice Karatu and her security aide — a police officer —
that he was instructed to bar her from gaining access to the
courtroom.

The judge was said to be due to retire on July 5 and had gone to
the court on July 4 to deliver her last judgement when the incident
occurred.

She had reportedly written a petition to the National Judicial
Council (NJC), decrying her non-confirmation based on her
religion.

But Ananaba said the issue should be taken far from the judge’s
petition and the response she got.

He stressed the need for security operatives to show restraint
when attempting to resolve civil issues.

“I think security agencies particularly the Civil Defence should
know when to apologise when to get to where their limits are,”
Ananaba said.