- Nyesom Wike, criticized the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for hypocrisy.
- He accused the NBA of undermining the legal profession through its actions.
- Wike spoke during a meeting with the Body of Benchers, led by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN).
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has accused the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) of hypocrisy and actions that undermine the legal profession.
Speaking on Friday while receiving the Body of Benchers, led by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), at his Life Camp residence in Abuja, Wike condemned the NBA’s approach to Supreme Court rulings. He criticized the association for hastily dismissing judgments as unconstitutional without properly reviewing them, calling this trend harmful to the legal system.
“We will no longer tolerate the deterioration of our profession,” Wike stated. “You hear about a judgment, you don’t even take the time to read it, and the next thing you do is appear on national television to criticize it—without any consequences.”
Advocates Disciplinary Actions for Lawyers
The minister urged the Body of Benchers to take disciplinary action against erring lawyers, warning that a lack of accountability would set a dangerous precedent.
“If there’s no discipline, no lessons will be learned,” he stressed.
NBA’s Alleged Double Standards in Funding
Wike also accused the NBA of inconsistency in its funding policies, highlighting that the association accepts government support but labels other financial contributions as bribery.
“When the NBA was constructing its National Secretariat, they sought my support, and I contributed. Nobody called that a bribe,” he pointed out.
“I was the sole contributor for the NBA Secretariat, and I asked them to name a floor after Rivers State, not after me. That was not considered a bribe. But if you contribute to the Body of Benchers, suddenly it is? When the NBA relies on state governments for sponsorship, that’s acceptable, but other contributions are viewed differently?”
Criticism Over NBA’s Handling of Rivers State Crisis
Wike further accused the NBA of bias in its response to the crisis in Rivers State. He suggested that the association’s stance against a state of emergency in the region was influenced by financial interests.
“They opposed a state of emergency in Rivers because they were expecting the government to fund their conference. But now that no government is willing to foot the bill, they are making noise,” he alleged.
“What kind of hypocrisy is this? It’s time to say, ‘Enough is enough.’ We cannot keep discouraging our judges.”
Clarifies Judiciary Projects in Abuja
Addressing concerns about the construction of an Annex Building for the legal profession, Wike emphasized that the project was approved by the President and included in the National Assembly’s budget.
“The decision to build the annex was not mine as FCT Minister,” he explained. He also mentioned similar projects, such as the Court of Appeal complex and judges’ quarters in Katampe, as part of the legal infrastructure improvements.
Additionally, Wike revealed that the 2025 budget includes provisions for hostels at the Nigerian Law School in Bwari to address accommodation issues. He assured the Body of Benchers that an ongoing staff housing project would be handed over to the Council of Legal Education upon completion. A fire station at the Annex Building has also been incorporated into the budget.
Calls for Judicial Independence and Respect
Expressing concern over the growing distrust toward Nigerian judges, Wike lamented that judicial officers now avoid public engagements for fear of corruption accusations.
“Judges can’t even attend public events anymore? They can’t worship in peace because they are judges?” he asked.
He urged legal professionals to protect the integrity of the judiciary instead of undermining it.
“I’ve never seen a profession where its own members work to destroy it. No sector is perfect—every arm of government has its challenges. So why is it that only the judiciary is constantly criticized?”
Wike reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the legal profession, declaring, “I will always seize every opportunity to contribute to its growth.”
