Malami’s absence stalls hearing on legality of his tinkering with rules for lawyers’ conduct

The absence of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), at the Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday stalled hearing in a suit challenging the validity of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners (Amendment) Rules 2021 (S.I. No. 15 of 2020) enacted by the AGF.

Although Malami was served with hearing notice in the suit marked FHC/ ABJ/ CS/ 77/2022, he neither appeared in court nor sent a representative.

He also offered no explanation for his absence. Counsel to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ibrahim Sunday Ameh (SAN), expressed displeasure over the AGF’s absence in the case, in which he is the sole defendant.

He informed Justice Donatus Okoronwo that Malami had filed a memorandum of conditional appearance and counter-affidavit to the originating summons of the NBA served on him, wondering why the defendant did not deem it fit to be in court.

Ameh, however, said since the matter was for mention, he urged the court to give an adjournment for the defendant to have another opportunity to appear in court.

Reacting, the juge confirmed that the AGF was duly served with the hearing notice and originating summons and had even taken steps in filing a memorandum of appearance and counter-affidavit on record. He, thereafter, granted the request and adjourned till May 12.