Kano Emirship Tussle: Lawyers, Judges Have Brought Shame to Legal Profession – NBA President

• NBA President Yakubu Maikyau criticized lawyers and courts for issuing conflicting injunctions in the Kano Emirate crisis, causing public ridicule
• Maikyau urged court heads to investigate judges’ conduct and report findings to the NJC, emphasizing the need for professional scrutiny

President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Yakubu Maikyau, has criticized the role of some lawyers and courts in the conflicting injunctions regarding the Kano Emirate crisis.

Two courts in Kano State have issued contradictory interim injunctions on the Emirate tussle. On Tuesday, Justice S. A. Amobeda of the Federal High Court in Kano ordered the eviction of the reinstated Emir, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, from the Gidan Rumfa palace. Meanwhile, Justice Amina Adamu Aliyu of the Kano State High Court issued a separate order preventing the police, the State Security Services (SSS), and the Nigerian Army from evicting, harassing, or arresting Sanusi.

Sanusi and the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, are engaged in a contentious battle for the royal throne, which has led to protests from their supporters in Kano.

Reacting to this development, Maikyau, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), expressed his dismay over the counsel and judges’ conduct in a statement on Wednesday. He emphasized the need for an urgent review of their professional conduct.

Maikyau called on the respective heads of the courts to investigate the judges’ conduct and report their findings to the National Judicial Council (NJC) for necessary action. He stated, “The conduct of counsel and the Courts in these proceedings, resulting in conflicting orders, has brought disgrace and shame to the legal profession. It has exposed the entire legal profession in Nigeria to public ridicule and shame.”

He added, “The damage to the legal profession will take a long time to recover from. It is unacceptable that our courts’ processes are deployed in such a manner on a matter as clear as a chieftaincy dispute. This issue has been sufficiently addressed by legislation and case law, leaving no confusion about the jurisprudence involved.”

Maikyau stressed the urgent need to scrutinize the professional conduct of counsel and judges involved to determine ethical and professional misconduct. He urged the respective heads of the courts to investigate and report any abuse of judicial offices to the NJC.

The NBA President also announced that the NBA would investigate the conduct of the counsel involved and would not hesitate to commence disciplinary action if professional misconduct is found. The Chairman of the NBA Ethics and Disciplinary Committee has been directed to invite these counsel for preliminary investigations.

Maikyau concluded, “While the NBA will continue to protect the integrity, welfare, and independence of the Bar and the Judiciary, we will not hesitate to call out any judge or counsel whose conduct brings the legal profession into disrepute.”