Lawyers were divided over the directive from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to stay away from the courts in protest against the suspension of Walt
Lawyers were divided over the directive from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to stay away from the courts in protest against the suspension of Walter Onnoghen as the chief justice of Nigeria (CJN). The association had issued a directive at an emergency national executive committee meeting in Abuja on Monday asking lawyers to boycott the courts.
It said the action which should last for two days is meant to serve as a warning to the federal government. While some complied, others ignored the directive. In Kaduna, all the courtrooms at the state high court complex, were empty. At the federal high court in Abuja, proceedings were suspended in some courtrooms over low turnout of lawyers. In Lagos, however, normal court activities went on at the state high court in Igbosere, and at the Lagos high court in Ikeja. Earlier, the Jigawa branch of the NBA had issued a statement defying the directive from the national body. Another group of lawyers under the aegis of Integrity Nigerian Lawyers Association, said the NBA’s directive is an attempt to shelve one single person from facing the law.
Accused of false assets declaration, Onnoghen is currently standing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).
