The Chairman of the Nigerian Body of Benchers, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), has pleaded with Nigerians, including lawyers, not to pull down the Judiciary with criticisms.
He gave the advice following the reaction of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kayode Ariwoola, warning that the Supreme Court’s silence on attacks on its judicial officers should not be mistaken for weakness or cowardice.
Ariwoola said those who had been venting convoluted anger were ignorant of the law, adding that the insinuations that the apex court justices were bought over was nothing but bizarre expression of ignorance.
Olanipekun urged lawyers to subject any matter or judgment of the courts to criticism in law journals, law reports or write ups, and not by abusing the justices.
The former NBA president stressed that abuses do not constitute arguments and would not improve arguments.
According to him, it is sacrilegious for any lawyer to be commenting on any matter pending in court.
“It is always better, and by the ethics of our profession, when a matter is subjudice, it is not advisable to comment on it,” Olanipekun said.
On the naira redesign, the legal luminary backed the currencies swap policy but faulted the implementation procedures, which he said have inflicted hardship on Nigerians.
The Body of Benchers chairman said it was unfortunate that a policy, which should improve financial inclusion and protect the interests of the masses, has paralysed economic activities across the country.
He said: “The reality on the ground is that the policy of the new redesigned naira is a good idea but the implementation of the good idea is faulty.
“The naira policy, the way it was initiated, I don’t want to doubt the good faith of government, but one thing is that government exists to make life easier, pleasurable, meaningful, habitable for the citizenry. That is the prime essence of government.
“I will not say much, if government says that they are doing this because they don’t want the politics and election to be monetised. I agreed with government but the question is this, if your election and your politics are monetised, what are the security agencies doing,” Olanipekun added.
