The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has sharply criticized the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) for its stance against the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu. Wike accused the NBA of discrediting the decision for ulterior motives, alleging that the association’s opposition stemmed from the fact that the Rivers government had promised to host the NBA’s annual general conference.
Wike made these remarks during a visit by officials of the Body of Benchers, led by its Chairman, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), to his office in Abuja on Friday. According to the minister, the NBA’s objection to the state of emergency was driven by the anticipated lack of financial support for the conference. He questioned the NBA’s integrity, asking, “What kind of hypocrisy is this?”
The minister went on to claim that the NBA’s reaction was not based on constitutional concerns but on the financial implications for their conference. Wike stated that the association’s reluctance to support the declaration of the state of emergency was rooted in the fact that no money would be allocated to them for hosting the event. His comments underscored his belief that the NBA’s criticism was driven by self-interest rather than any genuine legal concern.
In his comments, Wike also took the opportunity to call on the Body of Benchers to intervene and address what he saw as the NBA’s unjustified criticism of the judiciary. He expressed disappointment that the NBA, as a professional body, had become embroiled in actions that could potentially undermine the legal profession. “We shall no longer allow our profession to be pulled down. I cannot believe, as a lawyer, that you make a contribution to help the legal profession and you will be criticised by your fellow lawyers,” Wike remarked.
He further condemned the NBA for its tendency to publicly criticize court judgments without first reading the rulings. According to Wike, many members of the NBA have appeared on national television to condemn judgments and criticize judges without understanding the legal basis for the decisions. He emphasized that this has gone unchecked and without any disciplinary measures. “If you don’t discipline somebody, nobody will learn any lesson,” he added.
The minister expressed frustration at what he perceived as a damaging trend within the NBA, urging the Body of Benchers to take action to prevent the continued erosion of the profession’s credibility. He said that the time had come to put an end to the actions that were undermining the integrity of the judiciary. “We cannot continue to discourage our judges and justices. It is not done anywhere,” he said, highlighting the importance of supporting the legal system rather than tearing it down from within.
Wike also pointed out the inconsistency in the NBA’s stance on government support for the judiciary, accusing the association of labeling any assistance from the executive arm to the judiciary as bribery. He recalled how the NBA had previously sought and received support from the government for the construction of its national secretariat, but at the time, the financial assistance was not viewed as a bribe. “When you contribute to the Body of Benchers, it is a bribe, but when you contribute to NBA, it is not a bribe, they will take it,” Wike remarked.
The minister questioned the NBA’s double standard, noting that the same association often relies on state governments to sponsor its activities, yet criticizes government support for the judiciary. He pointed out this hypocrisy by stating, “The same NBA will rely on state governments to sponsor their activities, but when the state government supports the judiciary, it is bribery.”
Wike’s comments also extended to the growing pressure faced by judges in the country, who, he said, have been increasingly taunted by public accusations of bribery. He described how judges have become fearful of attending social gatherings or even participating in religious activities such as church or mosque visits, out of concern for being accused of accepting bribes. “It has gotten to the stage that our judges are so scared of going to a mosque or church or even greeting somebody they know because of fear of bribery,” Wike lamented.
The minister concluded by calling for an end to the vilification of judges and justices. He emphasized the need for a more respectful and supportive environment for members of the judiciary, stressing that such actions were having a detrimental impact on the judicial system. “They run away from shaking people’s hands because they will start accusing them of collecting bribes. This must stop,” Wike concluded.
