Kano Emirate Tussle: Lawyers, Judges have Brought Shame to Legal Profession – NBA President

Yakubu Maikyau, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), expressed concern over the involvement of certain lawyers and the judiciary in issuing contradictory injunctions related to the Kano Emirate crisis.

The Kano State has seen two separate courts issue conflicting temporary injunctions regarding the ongoing dispute over the Kano Emirate.

Justice S. A. Amobeda from the Federal High Court in Kano has ruled for the removal of reinstated emir Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II from Gidan Rumfa palace.

However, Justice Amina Adamu Aliyu of the Kano State High Court has issued a separate order preventing the police, State Security Services (SSS), and Nigerian Army from evicting, harassing, or arresting Sanusi.

The struggle for the royal throne between Sanusi and the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, has led to protests by their supporters in Kano.

In response to the situation, Maikyau, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), voiced his disappointment with the behavior of lawyers and judges in the cases.

He emphasized the importance of promptly evaluating the professional behavior of all parties involved. The President of the NBA urged court leaders to look into the judges’ actions and submit their findings to the National Judicial Council (NJC) for appropriate measures.

He expressed his strong belief that the actions of lawyers and the judiciary during the legal processes leading to the rulings from multiple courts in Kano and at the federal level were a shameful display that has tarnished the reputation of the legal field in Nigeria, subjecting it to public mockery and disapproval.

The harm caused will have a lasting impact on the legal field, requiring a significant amount of time to heal. It is regrettable and completely unnecessary.

Considering that our country’s legal knowledge and skills have been shared and benefited not only Africa but the entire world for many years, it is unacceptable that our court procedures have been misused in the recent days. This misuse revolves around a straightforward issue like a chieftaincy dispute.

Legislation and case law have thoroughly addressed this topic, providing clarity on both procedural and substantive aspects.

Despite ongoing cases in the Federal High Court and Kano State High Court, it is crucial to assess the professional behavior of the Counsel and Judges.

This evaluation will help determine their ethical and professional accountability, ensuring transparency in these legal proceedings.

I urge the leaders of the relevant courts to promptly investigate the behavior of the judges involved for any potential misuse of their positions and report their findings to the National Judicial Council.

Simultaneously, the NBA will scrutinize the actions of the lawyers in these cases and will take disciplinary measures through the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee if any professional misconduct is discovered.

The head of the NBA Ethics and Disciplinary Committee has been instructed to summon these lawyers for initial inquiries. While we are committed to upholding the honor, well-being, and autonomy of both the legal profession and judiciary, we will not hesitate to denounce any judge or lawyer whose actions risk tarnishing our field.