Get Guardian on GoogleThe Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has condemned remarks made by a lawyer, Kalu Kalu, against a judicial officer during a television programme, saying lawyers must maintain professional standards even when criticising court decisions.
NBA President, Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, stated this in a statement posted on the association’s official X handle.
The remarks were made during the November 11 edition of Politics Today, hosted by Seun Okinbaloye.
Badejo-Okusanya said lawyers had the right to scrutinise judgments, challenge their reasoning and point out errors, but insisted that disagreement with a judicial decision did not justify personal attacks on the judge.
She said personal insults offered no legal analysis or remedy to aggrieved litigants, but instead diminished public debate and brought the legal profession into disrepute.
The NBA president cited the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners, 2023, which require lawyers to maintain high standards of professional conduct and treat courts with respect, dignity and honour.
She added that the rules also provide for complaints against judicial officers to be submitted to the appropriate authorities.
Badejo-Okusanya disclosed that she had forwarded a formal petition, alongside the relevant broadcast material, to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee for consideration.
She said Kalu would have the opportunity to respond, while the committee would determine whether professional misconduct occurred and what sanction, if any, was appropriate.
The NBA president urged lawyers to challenge judicial decisions firmly through legal arguments while maintaining respect for the courts and the standards of the profession.
