Judge remands lawyer in prison over insolence, dishonourable conduct at 2 proceedings
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
High Court Judge Benjamin Manji has remanded in Yola prison for contempt of court, M. K. Tijjani, counsel to dismissed Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Adamawa Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Hudu Yunusa.
Tijjani was sent to prison for insolence and dishonourable conduct during proceedings at a Yola High Court on Friday.
At the resumed hearing of the criminal case against Yunusa on Friday, Tijjani refused to announce his appearance when the case was mentioned but rather turned his face away even when Manji asked him to speak up, per Nigerian Tribune.
When the Judged asked him to announce his appearance, he replied: “I am not a party to the case; during the last sitting, I only held the brief of another counsel.”
Tijjani made profane utterances and the Judge ordered him to unrobe, step into the witness box, and explain why the court should not commit him to contempt of court.
He exhibited the same attitude in the witness box which the Judge viewed as contempt of court and ordered that he be taken to Yola correctional centre.
During previous hearing on January 23, Tijjani announced his appearance for Yunusa and attempted to record the proceedings with his mobile phone.
Manji ordered him to stop what he was planning to do, but he said nobody would stop him from recording the proceedings.
Tijjani lashed out at the Judge, saying that no law prohibits lawyers from recording court proceedings with their mobile phone and nobody would stop him from doing it.
Prosecution counsel L. D. Nzadon had to intervene, calling Tijjani to order and pleading with the Judge to exercise patience with his colleague.
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