A Lawyer, Kalu Kalu, In Trouble For Calling Hon. Justice Lifu “Coconut Judge” … NBA President Petitions LPDC Against Him

By Adesina Soyooye 

For calling the Honourable Justice Peter Lifu a “Coconut Judge” on  live television, a Lawyer, Kalu Kalu, may be in trouble. He could face serious disciplinary action. 

Here is why.

The Nigerian Bar Association, says he insulted Justice Lifu by referring to him as a “Coconut Judge.”

Kalu, the NBA said, made the remarks during an interview on the November 11, 2026 edition of Politics Today, a television programme hosted by Seun Okinbaloye. The NBA, has, therefore, reported him to the appropriate body of the Association.

The President of the NBA,  Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, in a statement titled “A Lawyer’s Duty of Respect Does Not End at the Courtroom Door,” strongly  condemned Kalu’s remarks, and emphasised that  lawyers must maintain professional standards and respect for judicial officers, no matter  their disagreements with the decisions of the Court.

The full text of the statement reads:

“Yesterday, my attention was drawn to insulting remarks directed at a judicial officer by Kalu Kalu, Esq. during the 11 November 2026 edition of Politics Today, hosted by Seun Okinbaloye. 

I have since obtained and watched a recording of the programme.

“On behalf of the Nigerian Bar Association, I condemn the use of such language unequivocally. A lawyer’s disagreement with a Judicial decision, however strongly held, cannot excuse personal abuse of the Judge who delivered it. Neither the intensity of a political controversy, nor the platform on which a lawyer speaks, relieves that lawyer of professional responsibility.

“Lawyers have every right to examine judgments, challenge their reasoning and expose errors. Indeed, rigorous criticism contributes to the development of the law and the administration of justice.

“Judges are accountable for their exercise of judicial power, and the NBA will continue to insist on that accountability. But personal insults do nothing to establish that a judgment is wrong. They offer the public no legal analysis and provide no remedy for an aggrieved litigant. Instead, they diminish the quality of public debate and bring our profession into disrepute.

“The Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners, 2023 require lawyers to maintain high standards of professional conduct and to treat the courts with respect, dignity and honour. They also provide for complaints against judicial officers to be made to the appropriate authorities. These obligations cannot be put aside when a lawyer steps into a television studio.

“Our professional standing gives our words particular weight. Members of the public are entitled to expect that a lawyer discussing a judgment will help them understand the issues, the reasoning and the available remedies. That standing carries a responsibility to exercise judgment and restraint, especially when passions are high.

Accordingly, I have forwarded a formal petition, together with the relevant broadcast material (which is also attached to this statement), to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee for consideration in accordance with the applicable procedure. (Broadcast clip: https://nigerianbar.online/assets/nba-kalu-kalu-politics-today-clip.mp4)

“Mr. Kalu Kalu will be entitled to respond. Whether professional misconduct has occurred and what sanction, if any, is appropriate will be matters for the Committee to determine. Respect for due process does not, however, require the NBA to remain silent about language that falls below the standards we expect of our members.

“The Bar must be able to demand accountability from the Bench and insist on discipline within its own ranks. Our credibility depends on our willingness to do both.

“I urge every member of our profession to take this responsibility seriously. We can speak firmly, disagree profoundly and challenge judicial decisions with all the force that the lawpermits. But we must also remember that the manner in which we do so teaches the public something about the profession we represent.

“Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN FCIArb

President, Nigerian Bar Association

13 November 2026″

Trouble for Kalu started when he appeared on Channels Television to discuss the judgement delivered by the Honourable Justice Peter Lifu which sacked the David Mark-led National Working Committee, NWC, of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, thus rendering null and void all the actions it took, including all the Primaries  it conducted.