A public figure in focus here is the NBA President, Abubakar Mahmood (SAN) and his unguided statement and subsequent ultimatum to President Buhari.
That prompt and shameless ranting of the NBA President brings to focus the question concerning his integrity and mission in NBA. What are the established procedures for arresting corrupt individuals or corrupt judicial officers?. I must state here categorically that, Abubakar Mahmood lost my respect for him, when he unilaterally declared a state of emergency as it affects the affairs of the Judiciary, what effrontery?. Why has he not constituted a Judicial damage control management team, comprising all past Presidents of the Association before now?. When it is common knowledge how Judges divert Justice because of been compromised.
It is questionable and embarrassing for the NBA President to throw caution to the waste bin and demanded the unconditional release of the arrested judges. And that if his demands are not met, he will meet with the CJN. Mr. NBA President, please go and meet with Obama for all well meaning Nigerians care. Or are you pro-actively protecting the person of the Chief Judge of Kano State?. If Supreme Court Justices could be grossly indicted in this cashgate shame, what do you expect from Judges of the lower Courts? Oga NBA President, go and rest joor. Why would a supposedly self-respecting NBA President not wait for full details to emerge before issuing some fruitless threats?, are the Judges above the law?. Don't worry Mr. NBA President, Nigerians will soon know what you are preempting.
Another reason why l am vexed with the NBA President's careless demands is that, the Judges in whose residences huge sums of foreign and local currencies were discovered are employees of the Nation's Judiciary, for the mere fact that they could not give reasonable account of the monies in their possession given their monthly take home should have been enough reason for the NBA President's anger and outright condemnation. Anyway, they will definitely have their day in court. Let me also assure the NBA President, that he can not brow beat Nigerians any longer, no way, not this time. Is NBA bigger than National Judicial Council?, are you not aware that, even few lawyers who have plucked up courage to expose corrupt Judges have been stigmatized and treated like lepers?.
May l also remind Abubakar Mahmood that the NBA and NJC had failed to take advantage of the relevant statutory disciplinary bodies to purge the bar and bench of corrupt individual elements.
Finally Mr. NBA President, may l remind you of the few following unfortunate events;
*Justice Ayo lsa Salami was manhandled by security agents, illegally suspended and forcefully expelled from the bench, was there a statement from NBA?.*
*A promising young lawyer was killed in Rivers State recently, was there a press statement from NBA?.*
*Several court proceedings/sittings were disrupted in Ekiti State and a respected High Court Judge was slapped and physically assaulted by a randy Governor Ayodele Fayose, did you issue out threats?*
*The Bayelsa State present Chief Security Officer led thugs and hoodlums to a court sitting in Yanogoa, the Judge was attacked and injured with several others, did you declare a Judiciary state of emergency?.*
Unfortunately, some Nigerians and the NBA President seem to be ignorant of the petrifying truth that, unless the Nigeria State is secured substantially and corruption and corrupt elements are relatively brought under strict control, our Nation's economy will never take root and thrive as fast as we anticipated.
It is therefore my view that, this current cleansing operation be sustained and decisively too, till sanity and sanctity is returned to the esteemed third arm of government. The Buhari administration need to rid the Nation of corrupt practices and tendencies.
*SHAME TO NBA PRESIDENT AND SUPPORTERS OF CORRUPTION*
~By Rowland Orlu
From Port Harcourt
