The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Badagry Branch has petitioned the Chief Judge and Chairman, Lagos State Judicial Service Commission over denigration, disparagement and humiliation of its branch by Chief Magistrate Patrick Adekomaiya of Court 1, by referring to executive as thugs in open Court.
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In a petition signed by the Chairman, Barrister Muhammed Sodipo and its General Secretary, Mrs Ijeoma Ekwoanya in Lagos, urged the commission to look into the matter.
“Prior to the branch law week, we wrote to all the presiding officers of the Court in Badagry Judicial Division and Magisterial District which includes the Magistrate of Court 1.
“We requested that Nov. 15 and 19 be declared free for the purpose of the law week through a letter dated Oct.11 which was received on behalf of the Magistrate by one Tosin Ogundana on Oct.13.
“So, on Nov.15, when the law week was to start with Church Service, we proceeded to Court 1 and the Chairman peeped through the door and signaled the Registrar, Mr Sunday Hunpatin but he declined that his Honour had instructed him not to leave his seat.
“The Chairman further signalled to the registrar that we would like to see his Honour and he stood up and whispered unto his Honour’s ear and at that time one Jude Eze was addressing the Court while the Chairman, other executive members and few members who accompanied him waited patiently till his Honour finished and adjourned the case before him.
“Immediately, His Honour looked up and shouted why are guys standing? Find a place to sit after we strangers despite the fact that we were robed and pretending he doesn’t know anyone of us yet no one fumed among us.
“The Chairman said we are commencing our law week today with Church Service and our members who are supposed to be part of the programme are here and we believe it’s an affront to the Bar for our members not to attend the law week written to our Courts.
“Despite the fact that we told Adekomaiya that we had written the Chief Judge and he had approved it as a free week in honour of the branch.
“But the Magistrate said “I have no business will the Admin Judge and I have no business with the Chief Judge, the approval for law given by the Chief Judge is not meant for me and if you don’t want to sit go and the Chief Registrar and let him come and tell me not to sit.
“After which he said” your act is thuggery. You have no job that is why you are doing law week. Gentlemen, you can join them if you have no job like them. Get out of my Court.
“The Chairman only responded by saying we have heard and we shall do the needful, so we left.
“With due respect, this is a total humiliation, inhuman, degrading treatment and public assault to the entire Bar from a member of the Bar and total disregard to the oath of office taken by the Magistrate,” it stated.
It said that the action of the Magistrate is not only insultive but degrading and belittles the Bar of which he is a member.
The Association in the petition said it had resolved to boycott Court 1, which is being his Honour Court by Dec.6, but as to postpone this as a mark of honour to enable your Lordship address the issue.
“However, if your Lordship did not treat this matter as a matter of urgency, the branch shall have no option than to commence the boycott of Chief Magistrate Adekomaiya’s Court.
“Therefore, our members are no longer comfortable appearing before his Honour, Adekomaiya and we hereby ask for his redeployment from Badagry Magisterial District,” it stated.
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