Barely 24 hours after The DEFENDER’s report of former Director General, PRODA, Engr. Edmund Kaine, calling on junior lawyers to rise up and speak out against judiciary corruption as demonstrated by suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Nkanu Samuel Onnoghen, the Barrister Hussaini Saraki-led coalition of young lawyers, under the umbrella of Good Governance Initiative Coalition (GGIC), have shunned the boycott order by the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA).
This was as lawyers in Ondo State also shunned the NBA order as one of the them, Mr. Remi Emodamori, who spoke in Akure Tuesday, said it was shameful that, instead for the NBA to ask an alleged CJN to step aside for him to face his trial that it was, it was ordering court boycott of proceeding.
On the Lagos side, Lawyers, who also shunned the NBA boycott order, condemned the NBA’s order.
Among them Lawyers Akinwale Ekunnusi and Goke Olakulehin. In his comment, Akinwale said he is bound by his contract between him and his client saying that it is from the money he makes that he pays his dues to the NBA and so that the boycott was unnecessary.
Olakulehin said: “He was accused of corruption and you cannot ask him to go and face his charges?”
The coalition of younger lawyers, GGIC, which spoke in Abuja on Tuesday drummed support for President Muhammadu Buhari in his anti-corruption fight and suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen.
The Convener of GGIC, Saraki, disclosed the group’s support for Buhari during a solidarity rally at Unity Fountain, Maitama, Abuja.
Saraki urges lawyers under the umbrella to ignore the two days court boycott as directed by the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA).
He stressed that abiding by the boycott order would be sequel to aligning with suspected highly corrupt citizens working for their selfish gains.
Saraki stressed that the group was of the firm believe that no one was above the law, including the CJN.
The group wondered why the CJN did not do the honourable thing by resigning, since he had already accepted the allegations against him.
They therefore stressed that it was right for the CJN to be aside while the case against him is determined.
“You cannot expect the CJN to chair a committee and judge against himself. Infact it is against the doctrine of natural justice to allow the suspended CJN to be a judge in his own case.
“It would have been more honorable if he had stepped down on his own accord,” the group said. They called on the National Assembly not do anything that will jeopardize the efforts of President Buhari in the fight against corruption.
