NBA to probe Saraki’s lawyers over walkout at Code of Conduct Tribunal
November 6, 2015 Premium Times

The Nigerian Bar Association has said it would investigate the action of the senior counsel who represented the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal on Thursday.
The NBA General Secretary, Afam Osigwe, said on Friday in Abuja that the association would undertake the investigation to ascertain facts of what transpired at the tribunal before taking a position.
“We got different accounts in the media and would need the correct details to allow the NBA to react from an informed position.
“From the accounts we got through the media some said the lawyers walked out while others said they withdrew.
“So, due to the inconsistent choice of words, we cannot speak on the matter until we get the full and accurate details,’’ he said.
The lawyers, Mahmud Magaji and Ahmed Raji, had withdrawn their services as lawyers representing Mr. Saraki at his trial on allegation of false asset declaration before the tribunal.
They had also staged a walk out with the junior lawyers who appeared with them before the tribunal concluded the case.
The lawyers openly announced their withdrawal following their perceived dissatisfaction with the ruling of the tribunal on their application for stay of proceedings.
They said that they were displeased with the decision of the tribunal refusing the application to stay proceeding in the trial pending the determination of an appeal they filed before the Supreme Court.
Specifically, Mr. Magaji had said: “This is a judicial rascality and I cannot be part of this process. I therefore withdraw my representation as the respondent’s counsel.’’
Speaking in same vein, Mr. Raji said: “We have pending application before the supreme court.
“I believe that in the hierarchy of court we have the tail and the head and the tail cannot dictate for the head as we have seen here.
“I also withdraw my services as lawyer to the respondent.”
[b]Meanwhile, a cross section of lawyers in Abuja condemned the “walkout” by the senior counsel, describing it as a “disgrace to the bar’’.
Some of the lawyers said the action of the lawyers was unethical, while some blamed the judge for not taking appropriate action to charge them for contempt.
Nnanna Oketa said young lawyers were highly disappointed with the conduct of the senior advocates, adding that the action was more political than judicial.
“The truth is that what transpired yesterday at the Code of Conduct Tribunal is to say the least degrading of our profession; it was terrible and should not be associated with lawyers.
“Lawyers are expected to conduct themselves appropriately with the highest level of decorum when they are in court. That is not how we are trained and we hope that does not happen again.
“The truth is that, if your prayer is not granted by the court, there is a window of appeal if you are not comfortable with the ruling of the court,’’ he said.
Mr. Oketa stressed that lawyers and citizens alike must be properly guided by the rules of court in their conduct before the court and a judge.
Another legal practitioner, Anthony Ekuma, said the action of the senior lawyers was “most unruly’’.
“What they have done is a violation of Section 30 of the Rules for Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners 2007 as amended.
“With due respect to the learned seniors, they should know that notice of appeal does not constitute a stay in the hearing of a trial before a court,” he said.
Mr. Ekuma also condemned the action of the tens of Senators who accompanied Mr. Saraki to the tribunal.
The Senator had reportedly raised their voices in support of the lawyers when they walked out of court thereby disrupting the proceedings of the tribunal.
“The law is in no respecter of anyone, no matter how highly placed therefore you are expected to conduct yourself orderly while in court.
“There must be maintenance of decorum in the conduct of anybody in the court during proceedings no matter who the person is,’’ he said.[/b]
Mr. Saraki, who is standing trial at the tribunal over allegations of false asset declaration, had appealed to the Supreme Court to stop the trial.
The lawyers had applied to the tribunal to stay proceedings in the trial pending the decision of the apex court.
The tribunal, presided over by Justice Danladi Umar, however, in its ruling upheld the argument of the prosecution that staying proceeding would hamper speedy trial.
In his ruling, Mr. Umar relied on Section 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, which states that: “An application for stay of proceedings in respect of a criminal matter before the court shall not be entertained’’.
Similarly, he said that Section 305 (1) of the Act allows the trial court to exercise its discretion on stay of proceeding if an issue on the interpretation of the constitution is raised before an appellate court.
The section reads: “Where a question as to the interpretation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria arises in the course of trial and is referred to the Court of Appeal under the provisions of the constitution, the court before which the question arose may in its discretion:
“(a) adjourn the trial until the question has been considered and decided
“(b) conclude the trial and postpone the verdict until such time as the question has been considered and decided, or
“(c) conclude the trial and pass sentence but suspend execution until such time as the question has been considered and decided,
“And in any such case the court in its discretion shall commit the defendant or convict to prison or admit him to bail in accordance with the provision of Part 19 of this Act’’. (NAN)

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/192753-nba-to-probe-sarakis-lawyers-over-walkout-at-code-of-conduct-tribunal.html

Another wahala for dead body!

.

.

Probe Em N Collet Dere Certificate

It's until they start expelling lawyers from the bar before they get sense that there's a legal way of handling cases in court....... or those judges that give the most daft judgement on cases of corruption.

It's obvious saraki wont go down alone, a lot of people will definitely go down with him.

.Its quite unfortunate that senior lawyers will result to use of unethical means to express their displeasure over ruling of a judge.

Nigeria has turn to a joke!!!!
this is what buhari and APC
has brought upon us.....
its just the begining.

The NBA General Secretary, Afam Osigwe, said on Friday in Abuja that the association would undertake the investigation to ascertain facts of what transpired at the tribunal before taking a position.

"Ascertain facts as to what transpired at the tribunal" was modified to "NBA to probe Saraki's lawyers."

Expect Lying Liars to buy this hook, line and sinker.

That's unethical.

Mumu lawyers, they left their client naked

I'm sure they will change their statement from staging a walkout to withdrawal of support

Saraki is doom.

deadZONE:
Nigeria has turn to a joke!!!!
this is what buhari and APC
has brought upon us.....
its just the begining.

Actually, this is when Nigeria is beginning to see seriousness in judicial matter. But as usual, when you fight corruption, corruption will fight back

Mogidi:


"Ascertain facts as to what transpired at the tribunal" was modified to "NBA to probe Saraki's lawyers."

Expect Lying Liars to buy this hook, line and sinker.

'to probe' means 'to investigate' or carry out a proper research on something...the author of the piece is still in order...don't expose your green horn always

Saraki is an embarrassment to the medical profession. His lawyers are embarrassment to the legal profession.

[s]

LouisVanGaal:
'to probe' means 'to investigate' or carry out a proper research on something...the author of the piece is still in order...don't expose your green horn always

[/s]


Saraki's lawyers are not the objects of the proposed "investigation" rather what transpired at the tribunal is.
NBA expressily said it was going to be holistic, stop trying to imply Saraki's lawyers would be the only ones investigated.

Judicial rascality....I TOO KNOW will kill those lawyers

I said it before ......
the lawyers fumbled
read also http://www.lawyard.ng/contempt-of-court-saraki-lawyers-walkout-by-mislaw/

Mogidi:
[s][/s]


[s]Saraki's lawyers are not the objects of the proposed "investigation" rather what transpired at the tribunal is.
NBA expressily said it was going to be holistic, stop trying to imply Saraki's lawyers would be the only ones investigated.[/s]

Mumu short man, is the NBA going to investigate the Judge?? Do you think it is a political gathering? Ewu!

[s]

NgeneUkwenu:


Mumu short man, is the NBA going to investigate the Judge?? Do you think it is a political gathering? Ewu!

[/s]

They're going to investigate your transgender claims, ediot.

BlackrulesDworld:
It's obvious saraki wont go down alone, a lot of people will definitely go down with him.

Spit it out bro, Saraki is GOING DOWN ALONE! He had pushed the Chairman of the CCT to the limit by displaying gross arrogance that Danladi Umar is not good/big enough to preside over his criminal matter......Saraki like a stubborn goat refused to tow the path of honour shown him - resign! Now it is payback time.

deadZONE:
Nigeria has turn to a joke!!!!
this is what buhari and APC
has brought upon us.....
its just the begining.

Yes o! Such a thing never used to happen when Goodluck Jonathan was in power. Can you imagine a whole senate president being tried in court for corruption under Jonathan? Tufiakwa!

tomakint:

Spit it out bro, Saraki is GOING DOWN ALONE! He had pushed the Chairman of the CCT to the limit by displaying gross arrogance that Danladi Umar is not good/big enough to preside over his criminal matter......Saraki like a stubborn goat refused to tow the path of honour shown him - resign! Now it is payback time.

I think he is referring to the law defenders and makers that will go down with him not the Judge.

Mogidi:
[s][/s]


Saraki's lawyers are not the objects of the proposed "investigation" rather what transpired at the tribunal is.
NBA expressily said it was going to be holistic, stop trying to imply Saraki's lawyers would be the only ones investigated.

“From the accounts we got through the media some said the lawyers walked out while others said they withdrew.
“So, due to the inconsistent choice of words, we cannot speak on the matter until we get
the full and accurate details,’’

From the above extract, whose action do you think will be investigated by NBA?

NBA is the umbrella body of Nigerian lawyers. Obviously it only has jurisdiction to investigate the ynprofessional conduct of the lawyers in court that day. And in this case, Saraki's lawyers

Una go wound pa chukwudi with this kind of news.The man never recover from the last appeal rejection shock,still una carry high blood pressure news come again.

I'm sure his snuff box will be his only confidant and company while he quietly lick his numerous wound

Good move but hope the probe will not run for 4 years o

Mogidi:
[s][/s]


Saraki's lawyers are not the objects of the proposed "investigation" rather what transpired at the tribunal is.
NBA expressily said it was going to be holistic, stop trying to imply Saraki's lawyers would be the only ones investigated.

You are an idiot. Beclouded by hatred of Buhari. Guess what? He will rule your father up to your village for the next 8 years and nothing u can do about it!

Saraki lawyers lacks wisdom. Kalajaiye who was Oyinlola was d -bared while Oyinlola n Raauf re friends nw.

There was no way those lawyers could have staged a walkout without being in agreement with their client, saraki. The walkout was planned stage-managed.