Following Saturday\u2019s midnight invasion and the eventual arrest of some
\njudges, the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, on Saturday declared a state of
\nemergency in the judiciary, even as it asked President Muhammadu Buhari to
\norder the immediate release of the affected judges or there would be
\nconsequences.<\/p>\n
While addressing journalists alongside four past presidents, the NBA
\nPresident, Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN), made the declaration at the Eko Hotel,
\nVictoria Island, Lagos.
\nMahmoud addressed the press alongside four past presidents of the
\nassociation \u2013 Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN); Mr.
\nJ.B. Daudu (SAN) and Augustine Alegeh (SAN).<\/p>\n
Also in attendance at the declaration, were Prof. Kayinsola Ajayi (SAN),
\nMr. Yusuf Ali (SAN), Mr. Dele Adesina (SAN), Monday Ubani among others.<\/p>\n
Mahmoud said two Supreme Court justices, Inyang Okoro and Sylvester Ngwuta
\nwere \u201cabducted\u201d, with their families, adding that he had yet to have the
\nfull detail of other judges who could have been involved.<\/p>\n
Mahmoud said the NBA condemned what it termed the Gestapo-style operation
\nof the DSS.<\/p>\n
He announced the constitution of an emergency or crisis management team,
\ncomprising past NBA presidents to engage with the government. Mahmoud, who
\nsaid it was not the responsibility of the DSS to arrest judges, described
\nthe DSS action as an unconstitutional means of intimidating the judiciary
\nand undermining its independence.<\/p>\n
The NBA President called on President Muhammadu Buhari to order the
\nimmediate release of the arrested judges, vowing that there would be
\nconsequences should the demand be ignored.<\/p>\n
Mahmoud said, \u201cI want to emphasise again that we are not under military
\nrule and we cannot accept this unholy event and Gestapo-style operation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe, therefore, call on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately caution
\nall the state security agencies and to respect the rule of law and to
\nrespect due process.<\/p>\n
\u201cAny issues affecting the judicial officers, there are established
\nprocedures for handling them and we demand that this constitutional
\nprocess must be obeyed.<\/p>\n
\u201cGiven the unfolding nature of the event and the seriousness of the
\nsituation, the NBA hereby declares a state of emergency as it affects the
\naffairs of the judiciary and I hereby constitute a crisis management team,
\ncomprising all past presidents of the association.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to, on behalf of the association, make the very following clear
\nand unequivocal demands: we demand the immediate and unconditional release
\nof all the judges abducted from about 9pm yesterday (Friday).<\/p>\n
\u201cThe release must be done immediately and without any conditions. Two, we
\ndemand that the Department of State Services should limit itself to its
\nstatutory and constitutional responsibilities.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll be meeting with the CJN later tonight or tomorrow. There will be
\nconsequences should these demands are not met.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Following Saturday\u2019s midnight invasion and the eventual arrest of some judges, the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, on Saturday declared a state of emergency in the judiciary, even as it asked…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":53752,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-53750","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n