Anambra Gov Polls: NBA-SPIDEL Chairman, Ubani, Demands Action On Disciplinary Recommendation Against Judges, Lawyers

Former 2nd Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA,
Dr. Monday Ubani has demanded the enforcement of disciplinary
measures recommended by the Court of Appeal against some judges and
lawyers who delved into alleged frivolous post-primary-election
cases filed by some parties in the forthcoming Anambra governorship
election.

Recall that Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme while delivering judgment
in one of such cases had recommended that the National Judicial
Council, NJC should discipline two judges for unprofessional
conduct of dabbling into the Anambra State gubernatorial election
controversy and gave consequential judgements on it.

The judge also recommended that the NBA should discipline the
senior lawyers who filed the suit on behalf of their clients for
professional misconduct.

Commending the recommendation of Justice Nwosu-Iheme, Ubani
noted that the NJC and NBA must urgently act on the advice of the
judge so as to restore the hope of the common man on the
judiciary.

He said: “I must commend the courage, integrity and the
upholding of the public good that these profound pronouncements by
the learned jurist has brought to the entire judiciary and perhaps
the country.  

‘We can heave a sigh of relief knowing fully well that there are
still remnants in Nigeria that can stand and speak truth to the
Nation irrespective of whose ox is gored. We are proud of Hon
Justice Nwosu-Iheme. All hope is not lost for us as a nation.
Nigeria still has men and women of integrity everywhere! The few
denting our image are in minority but powerful and pervasive!

I, therefore, insist that disciplinary measures as recommended
by her Lordship be commenced by the NBA and NJC  to act as a
check to the incessant embarrassment the legal profession is
presently facing in all spheres and caused by those who are
supposed to know and observe the ethics of the profession whether
at the Bench or at the Bar. ‘

Ubani further stated that it is worrisome that Anambra State has
become notorious for many of the controversial election cases in
the country.

He said: ‘The recent happening in the electoral climate in
Anambra State deserves to attract serious concern by all and sundry
in the legal profession.   Every electoral season in
Anambra is usually “hot” with bizarre happenings especially court
cases that are notoriously unprecedented. 

“Our electoral jurisprudence is replete with so many cases that
have emanated from Anambra State since the return to democratic
rule in 1999. Some positive but many negative.

“The most litigious state in Nigeria in electoral matters, no
doubt, remains  Anambra State. There are reported instances
where parties in cases already decided will re-approach the Supreme
Court to “set aside” decisions that the Supreme Court as the final
court had decided.

“That such cases are usually filed by lawyers, especially senior
lawyers in the rank of Senior Advocates of Nigeria are not only
shocking but increasingly disgusting.

“What should evoke mourning is that such lawyers usually escape
disciplinary measures of Nigerian Bar Association over the
years. 

“The resultant effect is that cases of more bizarre nature are
being filed regularly with impunity by these categories of
lawyers.

Take for instance the All Progressive Grand Alliance(APGA)
primary gubernatorial election case that has just ended at the
court of Appeal in Awka this week.

“The journey of the case started in somewhere in Jigawa State
that is several hundreds of kilometers away from Anambra the state
that has territorial jurisdiction to decide the matter.  Both
the lawyer and the judge that decided on the case knew that the
Jigawa State High Court do not have territorial jurisdiction but
went ahead to decide the case not minding the consequence of such
brazen decision that is fatally flawed.

“As if that was not enough, another set of lawyers and a judge
this time around, somewhere in Imo State as “undertakers” undertook
to decide the APGA leadership matter that should be decided in
Anambra State affirming one Jude Okeke as APGA  acting
Chairman while one  Chukwuma Umeoji was declared as the
“authentic” gubernatorial candidate for the November 2021
gubernatorial election.

“A High court in Ananbra presided over by Justice Charles Okaa
corrected these anomalies and upheld the recognition of former
Central Bank Governor, Charles Soludo as the authentic All
Progressive Grand Alliance candidate in the November 6
gubernatorial election in the State.

“Dissatisfied the opponent brought a motion seeking to stop the
execution of the order of by Justice Charles Okaa.

“This impunity gave ample room to Justice Nwosu-Iheme of the
Court of Appeal Awka an opportunity she never wasted, to lash out
at the erring legal professionals who, according to her, go from
one part of the country to another in search of judgements to
enable some politicians to run for public office. It is called
“forum shopping” in legal parlance.

“Justice Nwosu-Iheme consequently demanded punishment for
Justice Musa Ubale of Birnin Kudu, Jigawa State and his counterpart
in the Imo State Judiciary, Justice B.C. Iheka for what she aptly
described as their unprofessional conduct by dabbling into the
Anambra State gubernatorial election controversy and gave
consequential judgements on it.

“She also sought and rightly too that lawyers who took the cases
to the State High Courts in Jigawa and Imo States be disciplined
for professional misconduct. “

Former 2nd Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA,
Dr. Monday Ubani has demanded the enforcement of disciplinary
measures recommended by the Court of Appeal against some judges and
lawyers who delved into alleged frivolous post-primary-election
cases filed by some parties in the forthcoming Anambra governorship
election.

Recall that Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme while delivering judgment
in one of such cases had recommended that the National Judicial
Council, NJC should discipline two judges for unprofessional
conduct of dabbling into the Anambra State gubernatorial election
controversy and gave consequential judgements on it.

The judge also recommended that the NBA should discipline the
senior lawyers who filed the suit on behalf of their clients for
professional misconduct.

Commending the recommendation of Justice Nwosu-Iheme, Ubani
noted that the NJC and NBA must urgently act on the advice of the
judge so as to restore the hope of the common man on the
judiciary.

He said: “I must commend the courage, integrity and the
upholding of the public good that these profound pronouncements by
the learned jurist has brought to the entire judiciary and perhaps
the country.  

‘We can heave a sigh of relief knowing fully well that there are
still remnants in Nigeria that can stand and speak truth to the
Nation irrespective of whose ox is gored. We are proud of Hon
Justice Nwosu-Iheme. All hope is not lost for us as a nation.
Nigeria still has men and women of integrity everywhere! The few
denting our image are in minority but powerful and pervasive!

I, therefore, insist that disciplinary measures as recommended
by her Lordship be commenced by the NBA and NJC  to act as a
check to the incessant embarrassment the legal profession is
presently facing in all spheres and caused by those who are
supposed to know and observe the ethics of the profession whether
at the Bench or at the Bar. ‘

Ubani further stated that it is worrisome that Anambra State has
become notorious for many of the controversial election cases in
the country.

He said: ‘The recent happening in the electoral climate in
Anambra State deserves to attract serious concern by all and sundry
in the legal profession.   Every electoral season in
Anambra is usually “hot” with bizarre happenings especially court
cases that are notoriously unprecedented. 

“Our electoral jurisprudence is replete with so many cases that
have emanated from Anambra State since the return to democratic
rule in 1999. Some positive but many negative.

“The most litigious state in Nigeria in electoral matters, no
doubt, remains  Anambra State. There are reported instances
where parties in cases already decided will re-approach the Supreme
Court to “set aside” decisions that the Supreme Court as the final
court had decided.

“That such cases are usually filed by lawyers, especially senior
lawyers in the rank of Senior Advocates of Nigeria are not only
shocking but increasingly disgusting.

“What should evoke mourning is that such lawyers usually escape
disciplinary measures of Nigerian Bar Association over the
years. 

“The resultant effect is that cases of more bizarre nature are
being filed regularly with impunity by these categories of
lawyers.

Take for instance the All Progressive Grand Alliance(APGA)
primary gubernatorial election case that has just ended at the
court of Appeal in Awka this week.

“The journey of the case started in somewhere in Jigawa State
that is several hundreds of kilometers away from Anambra the state
that has territorial jurisdiction to decide the matter.  Both
the lawyer and the judge that decided on the case knew that the
Jigawa State High Court do not have territorial jurisdiction but
went ahead to decide the case not minding the consequence of such
brazen decision that is fatally flawed.

“As if that was not enough, another set of lawyers and a judge
this time around, somewhere in Imo State as “undertakers” undertook
to decide the APGA leadership matter that should be decided in
Anambra State affirming one Jude Okeke as APGA  acting
Chairman while one  Chukwuma Umeoji was declared as the
“authentic” gubernatorial candidate for the November 2021
gubernatorial election.

“A High court in Ananbra presided over by Justice Charles Okaa
corrected these anomalies and upheld the recognition of former
Central Bank Governor, Charles Soludo as the authentic All
Progressive Grand Alliance candidate in the November 6
gubernatorial election in the State.

“Dissatisfied the opponent brought a motion seeking to stop the
execution of the order of by Justice Charles Okaa.

“This impunity gave ample room to Justice Nwosu-Iheme of the
Court of Appeal Awka an opportunity she never wasted, to lash out
at the erring legal professionals who, according to her, go from
one part of the country to another in search of judgements to
enable some politicians to run for public office. It is called
“forum shopping” in legal parlance.

“Justice Nwosu-Iheme consequently demanded punishment for
Justice Musa Ubale of Birnin Kudu, Jigawa State and his counterpart
in the Imo State Judiciary, Justice B.C. Iheka for what she aptly
described as their unprofessional conduct by dabbling into the
Anambra State gubernatorial election controversy and gave
consequential judgements on it.

“She also sought and rightly too that lawyers who took the cases
to the State High Courts in Jigawa and Imo States be disciplined
for professional misconduct. “