The Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Benin Branch, on Thursday, barred its members from defending persons charged with the grievous and felonious offences of kidnapping and armed robbery.

The branch made this known in a communiqué signed by its Chairman, Collins Ogiegbaen, and Secretary, Pius Oiwoh.

The association said it is withdrawing its services from all suspects whose offences are related to kidnapping against the background of incessant cases of kidnap and attempted kidnap of its members.

“In this regard and for purposes of emphasis, the branch resolves that all lawyers registered with it are forthwith prohibited from appearing for kidnap suspects either at the police station or in any court within the state.

Consequently, any member of the bar found flouting the resolution/directive shall be heavily sanctioned accordingly,” the communiqué said.

Source: https://www.mediahelm.com.ng/2019/04/edo-nba-bars-lawyers-from-defending.html

Noble as their act is.. It still recks of inconsideration and immaturity.

Everyone is innocent until proven guilty.

The sole essence of having some form of representation in criminal cases is
basically to explore all the possible options contained in ambits of a law and once they exhausted, the criminal can even convince others why he had to be jailed.

Even, the Panty bomber, Abdulmutallab was aptly represented in US in spite of the carnage he almost caused.

So Edo NBA should perfect their arguments for and against the subject matter and not kill a fly with a sledgehammer.

As noble as their stance looks, what of those that may be wrongly accused or may be at the wrong place at the wrong time??

What happens to them??

Lol. Illegal ban

Accidental lawyers who don't know their job.

The innocently charged will suffer but then criminal lawyers will suffer too. A source of money has just been blocked.

Anyway, when are they going to stop defending looters of our treasury too?

Police don hammer

Why Kidnapper have right get lawyer that will defend him/her .. Evans get lawyer

BruncleZuma:


Police don hammer

see guy wey know

Doctors should hence forth, stop treating kidnappers and their families. They are kidnapping doctors too.

They are "suspects" you dumb fvcks......A lot of innocent people may be framed. The stvpid police will insult the process.

So because lawyers and members of NBA are being kidnapped they decide to do the needful. Hypocrites

Where lies the innocent until proven guilty mantra? This is allowing sentiment take precedence over justice. Our judicial arm is very disappointing these days.

Very wrong.Did this come from those who are call themselves lawyers?

This is the most unfortunate position from the Edo branch of the NBA, I wouldn't have a problem with this stance if the Nigerian police do due diligence when investigating suspects. In my experience practicing, countless times, the police lump up suspects and charge them for armed robbery, kidnapping and all sorts, do we watch while innocent people amongst the accused rot in jail? The NBA national should put Edo branch on a short leash. This is despicable!

Nonsense.... They should have done this to corrupt politician .... even 1 year old kid knows that Saraki is corrupt yet more than 100 SAN defend him in court........This is stupidity

BUSINESSARENAA:
As noble as their stance looks, what of those that may be wrongly accused or may be at the wrong place at the wrong time??

What happens to them??

Thats the issue.

Everyone deserves a right to defence

Bad decisions.. What if they are not guilty?
At least a suspect is innocent until he is proven guilty

I wonder the rationale behind this great IRONY coming from the supposedly learned gentlemen.
This is prejudice of the highest magnitude! So if a person is wrongly accused of the said offenses, he'd be denied of legal representation?
Wisdom seems to be eluding the wise.

Abeg here's my contacts 08056566152***
Call me for your legal representation
I'm not from Edo NBA

These goons should not be lawyers.

If some day commercial or Keke Marwa drivers insult doctors or crash into cars of doctors, then doctors should not treat those drivers when rushed into trauma rooms after road accidents?

What of those falsely accused or underage manipulated by kingpins?

It seems in Nigeria even education cannot save people from iberibeism.

PlayerMeji:
Noble as their act is.. It still recks of inconsideration and immaturity.

Everyone is innocent until proven guilty.

The sole essence of having some form of representation in criminal cases is
basically to explore all the possible options contained in ambits of a law and once they exhausted, the criminal can even convince others why he had to be jailed.

Even, the Panty bomber, Abdulmutallab was aptly represented in US in spite of the carnage he almost caused.

So Edo NBA should perfect their arguments for and against the subject matter and not kill a fly with a sledgehammer.

GODFORBID FOR YOU IF A LOVED ONE,IS MAIMED,KILLED OR KIDNAPPED,THEN LET'S SEE HOW THIS YOUR SEMANTICS SOUNDS.ITS NOT YOUR PORTION.

Stupid rule.What happened to "If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be appointed for you?" Every one is entitled to his day in court.

How about those are being set up?

Lol


The kidnap and robbery suspects will just import Lawyers from other States of the Country as a decision of the Edo NBA does not bind lawyers from other states and more importantly, the Nigerian Constitution protects the right of any accused person to Legal representation of his choice

Then the kidnappers will be provoked to increase the kidnapping and even start murdering Edo Lawyers.. When caught, they will simply brief a lawyer outside Edo to represent them

I am a lawyer but I'm ashamed that my Edo Colleagues are reasoning this strangely

PlayerMeji:
Noble as their act is.. It still recks of inconsideration and immaturity.

Everyone is innocent until proven guilty.

The sole essence of having some form of representation in criminal cases is
basically to explore all the possible options contained in ambits of a law and once they exhausted, the criminal can even convince others why he had to be jailed.

Even, the Panty bomber, Abdulmutallab was aptly represented in US in spite of the carnage he almost caused.

So Edo NBA should perfect their arguments for and against the subject matter and not kill a fly with a sledgehammer.

exactly!!!
The croocked police will use this to their advantage now. They can hold anyone on ransom and tell the person they will form an allegation of kidnap against him if he doesn't cooperate with them. After all no lawyer will defend him. How stupid!!!

Nonsense medemede!

nurez305:
Nonsense.... They should have done this to corrupt politician .... even 1 year old kid knows that Saraki is corrupt yet more than 100 SAN defend him in court........This is stupidity

And Buhari who instead of telling Cambridge exam body (he is going to same London that is less than 100 km from Cambridge again now) to release his result but instead hired legions of SANS to defend him. And the stolen mandate in Osun state.

When lawyers are this dumb what hope do we have in nigeria

but it's ok to defend corrupt politicians abi?