Wike also emphasised the need for the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), to maintain discipline and protect judicial integrity.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has asked the Body of Benchers to take disciplinary action against human rights activist, Professor Chidi Odinkalu.
He made the call during a meeting with the Body of Benchers, led by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN).
During the parley the FCT minister accused the professor of degrading the legal profession through public criticism.
He went on to emphasise the need for the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), to maintain discipline and protect judicial integrity.
He further noted that if the visitors “
don’t “discipline someone” the trend would continue.
“We have instilled so much fear in our judges and justices that they can’t freely associate. If a judge is going to a mosque or church and sees someone they know, they hesitate to interact because they fear being accused. If they shake hands with someone, people will allege bribery, and a petition will be written claiming the judge was seen shaking someone’s hand,” he continued, indirectly referencing Odinkalu’s public critiques.
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“On Saturday, I went to the University of Calabar. The next thing I saw in the papers was a report claiming that a justice escorted me. And someone will sit down and read such a report.
“Once you see that, you should be able to say, ‘invite him’. You don’t just write baseless accusations, if you don’t discipline people.
“We cannot continue to allow our profession to be undermined. We cannot continue this way. If you don’t discipline someone, nobody will listen. Okay, can you please invite him? Did you write this…yes or no? We cannot allow the disparagement of our judges and justices. It’s not done anywhere. I think we have a lot of work to do but, first of all, we must instill discipline in our lawyers. Enough is enough.”
However, while reacting to Wike’s call on his X handle, Odinkalu dismissed the call for his sanction, saying that at the appropriate time, the minister’s story will be told.
