The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Yakubu Maikyau, SAN, has issued a strong condemnation of the recent conflicting court orders concerning the Emirship of Kano, labeling the situation a significant embarrassment to the legal profession.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Maikyau expressed deep dismay over the actions of both counsel and judges involved in the cases overseen by the Federal High Court and the Kano State High Court. He criticized the handling of these cases, which he believes has subjected the legal profession to public ridicule and damaged its integrity.
“The conduct of counsel and the courts in handling the proceedings, which culminated in the orders issued by the Federal High Court, the Kano State High Court, and again the Federal High Court, have brought utter disgrace and shame to the profession,” Maikyau stated. “The damage is one that would take the legal profession a long time to recover from. It is unfortunate and was totally uncalled for.”
The controversy over the Emirship of Kano has involved a series of contradictory orders from different courts, leading to widespread confusion and concerns about judicial integrity. Maikyau emphasized the need for an urgent review of the professional conduct of those involved.
“Without prejudice to the subsisting actions before both the Federal High Court and the Kano State High Court, it is my considered view that there is an urgent need to scrutinize the professional conduct of both counsel and the judges involved in these matters. This is to enable the relevant bodies or institutions to determine their culpability or otherwise from an ethical and professional standpoint,” he added.
Maikyau called on the heads of the respective courts to investigate the conduct of the judges and report their findings to the National Judicial Council (NJC) for appropriate action. “I call on the respective heads of the courts of the judges concerned to take immediate steps to look into their conduct with a view to finding any possible abuse of their judicial offices and file a report with the National Judicial Council for necessary action,” he urged.
Regarding the lawyers involved, Maikyau assured that the NBA would not hesitate to initiate disciplinary actions if any professional misconduct is found. “The NBA will investigate the conduct of the counsel involved in these cases and shall not hesitate to commence disciplinary action against them before the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee, should there be any finding of alleged professional misconduct against them. The Chairman of the NBA Ethics and Disciplinary Committee has accordingly been directed to invite these counsel for preliminary investigations,” he stated.
Earlier incidents highlighted by Maikyau include a Federal High Court in Kano ordering the eviction of Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II from the Kofar Kudu Palace, while a State High Court subsequently restrained the police and other security agencies from executing the eviction order. Furthermore, on Tuesday, the Federal Court ordered the police to ensure that all rights and privileges due to the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Bayero, were honored, affirming him as the rightful Emir of Kano. The presiding judge, Justice S. A. Amobeda, emphasized that the order was made in the interest of justice and maintaining peace in Kano State.
Maikyau reiterated the NBA’s commitment to maintaining professional standards and ensuring that the legal profession in Nigeria upholds its integrity and public trust.
