*NBA Kano Branch Dismisses Judge’s Remarks As ‘Tiresome Cliché,’ Calls For National Intervention

A Federal High Court judge in Nigeria, Justice Simon Amobeda, has described the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) branch in Kano State as “a political bar sponsored” to attack his court.

According to a report by Nigerian Sketch, Justice Amobeda, who presides over Court 3 of the Kano Division of the Federal High Court, made this assertion during a court session on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. He further stated, “There’s no Kano Bar. I will not recognize the Kano Bar.”

The judge’s comments were in response to a request for an alternative date for the adjournment of Suit No: FHC/KN/CS/425/2024, involving Abdullahi Abbas & 2 others versus the Central Bank of Nigeria and 54 others. Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Abdul Adamu Fagge, counsel for the plaintiffs, had pointed out that the adjourned date, April 14, 2025, coincided with the NBA Kano branch’s monthly meeting.

Justice Amobeda, however, dismissed the concern, insisting that he does not acknowledge the existence of an NBA branch in the state. He further stated, “As long as I am here, I will not have interaction with Kano Bar.”

The judge also threatened to declare ten lawyers as enemies of his court, alleging that “they were sent to this court.” In what appeared to be a series of emotional remarks, he criticized certain lawyers, referring to them as “lazy lawyers” who make derogatory statements about him and file applications requesting his recusal.

This is not the first time Justice Amobeda has been accused of displaying strong emotions in court. During a session on November 22, 2024, Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Ademoyega Awomolo and Nureini Jimoh, had urged the judge to exercise restraint. Awomolo, in particular, was quoted as saying, “I have seen the level of emotion in your lordship,” while appealing for a more measured approach.

A member of the NBA Kano branch, who was present in the courtroom, told Nigerian Sketch that such remarks by Justice Amobeda had become a “tiresome cliché.” He called for intervention from the national leadership of the NBA and other relevant authorities. “He cannot be disparaging the NBA every time he sits as a judge. I also think the appropriate authorities need to call him to order,” he stated.

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