The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) appeared to have detoured from its former position by asking judges recently arrested to either ‘recuse’ themselves or go ‘on compulsory leave’ until their innocence is proven.
In the wake of the judicial officers’ homes invasion, the NBA had excoriated the Department of State Security, DSS, for raiding the judges’ homes and moving on to brand it an attack on the judiciary.
However, Abubakar Mahmud, senior advocate and president of the NBA, made the statement urging the judges to step out at a valedictory court session for the retiring Justice Sotonye Denton-West of the Court of Appeal. He urged the National Judicial Council, NJC, to step in quickly to safeguard the eroding sanctity of the judiciary.
“In the interim, however, particularly having regards to what appears to be ongoing accusations and counter accusations between some of the judges and other personalities or agencies, it appears to the NBA that it is extremely important that the NJC takes very urgent steps to safeguard the public image and sanctity of the courts.
“We therefore strongly recommend that, without prejudice to the innocence or otherwise of the Judges involved in the ongoing investigations, they should be required to excuse themselves from further judicial functions or required to proceed on compulsory leave until their innocence is fully and completely established or until the conclusion of all judicial or disciplinary proceedings.
“We believe this will be necessary in order to protect the sanctity and integrity of judicial processes that may involve the judges concerned and safeguard the public image of the institution,” Mahmud said.
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