Conflicting Exparte Orders: NBA Drags SAN, Six Lawyers Before Disciplinary Committee

• To charge them before disciplinary committee for misconduct
• Calls for review of process for judges’ appointment

The Nigerian Bar Association on Monday said it has filed petitions against seven lawyers including a Senior Advocate of Nigeria who influenced judges to issue conflicting court orders.

The conflicting court orders, the NBA said, concerned especially political matters.

The organisation said it took the decision to drag them before the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee over judicial misconduct to restore confidence in the judiciary sector.

The LPDC is a statutory body put in place to take disciplinary action against lawyers accused of professional misconduct.

On its part, the NBA serves as the prosecution in any trial before its panel.

The President of the NBA, Olumide Akpata, said these at a press conference to herald the Justice Sector Summit slated for Tuesday in Abuja with the theme: “Devising practical solutions towards improved performance, enhanced accountability.”

He said, “Some lawyers have been identified to have played roles in conflicting decisions that emanated from different courts recently. They are seven in number, including a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

“We are in the process of filing a petition against them before the LPDC. This is based on our determination to ensure that the system is protected, irrespective of those involved.”

The National Judicial Council had stopped three High Court Judges from getting promotion for periods ranging from two to five years, after the body found them guilty of issuing conflicting ex-parte orders.

Meanwhile, the NBA has expressed the need for a review of the process for the appointment of judges while noting that the present process for selection of those to be appointed as judicial officers, is flawed.

The LPDC is the body recognised by law to take disciplinary action against lawyers accused of professional misconduct, while the NBA which is the umbrella body of lawyers in the country serves as the prosecution in any trial before its panel.

It will be recalled that the National Judicial Council (NJC) had earlier barred three high court judges from getting promotion for periods ranging from two to five years after it found them guilty of issuing conflicting ex-parte orders.

The NJC headed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad said the three judges were investigated even though there was no written petition, allegations of corruption or impropriety against them.