By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
The Chief Judge of Bayelsa State, Justice Matilda Ayemieye has described as unacceptable and unethical the disrespectful behaviour exhibited by some lawyers in the courts, saying that the Bar and the Bench need each other for professional and carrier growth.
Justice Ayemieye stated this in her speech during the Bar/Bench forum which marked the commencement of the 2024/2025 legal year held at the State High Court in Yenagoa.
She emphasized the importance of maintaining ethical standards and respecting judicial officers for practicing lawyers in the state and encouraged legal practitioners to prioritize professional growth.
The Chief Judge stressed that mutual respect should exist between the bench and the bar, emphasizing the need for lawyers to avoid disrespectful behavior towards judges.
“Members of the bar must respect members of the bench,
“We need each other for our professional and career growth. The disrespectful behavior exhibited by some lawyers in our courts is unacceptable.“Justice Ayemieye said.
Specifically, she lambasted lawyers who publicly announced their intention to appeal court rulings, deeming it unnecessary and disrespectful.
“Judges must be respected, whether they are at the High Court, Magistrates’ courts, or Customary courts,” she stressed .
In his speech, the State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Mr. Biriyai Dambo (SAN), expressed the government’s support for the judiciary’s efforts in dispensing justice.
He pledged the government’s commitment to settling all outstanding judgement debts and ensuring judiciary’s independence for the overall well-being of the state and its citizens.
Dambo highlighted Governor Douye Diri’s passion for the judiciary’s independence and his dedication to addressing the welfare of judicial officers.
The Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Yenagoa, Barr. Somina Johnbull lauded the Bayelsa State judiciary for its outstanding performance in dispensing justice.
The event was attended by notable dignitaries, including representatives of the State Commissioner of Police (CP) Alonyenu Francis Idu, and the State command of the Nigerian Correctional Service.