The Nigeria Bar Association, (NBA) has condemned, and described as unfortunate, embarrassing , and totally unacceptable, the reaction of the Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi to the Judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja which removed him and his Deputy, Kelechi Igwe, from office.
Justice Inyang Ekwo had ordered the Umahi and Igwe to vacate the offices of Ebonyi State on grounds of their defection from the Peoples’ Democratic Party, (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress, (APC).
But reacting to the development, Umahi had performed beneath contempt, using words unbecoming of his status to dismiss both the Honourable Jugde and the judgment.
Not a few people were shocked at the language the Governor deployed.
Shocked, the President of the NBA, Olumide Akpata, in a statement, posited that Governor Umahi, in the course of the Press Conference, threw caution to the wind and deployed very uncomplimentary adjectives and intemperate language in condemning both the judgment and Justice Ekwo, “including but not limited to describing the Judgment as “jungle justice” and His Lordship as “a hatchet man”.
The President of the Bar stated that Umahi accused the Court of “murdering justice” and also “arrogated to himself the judicial powers and magisterial authority to declare the judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction as null and void, while unashamedly declaring his intention to disregard the Judgment in favour of another.”
The NBA described the reaction of the Governor “as impunity of the highest order and executive rascality taken too far.”
The statement pointed out that the NBA has absolutely no interest in the outcome of the case in question and will continue to stay away from partisan politics.
“It is inconceivable that this Association that is charged with upholding the rule of law and defending the Judiciary would sit idly by in the face of this unprovoked and totally unwarranted attack on the Judiciary.”
It maintained that appropriate action would be taken to protect the sanctity of the Judiciary.
The NBA added that “without equivocation, Umahi’s unfortunate diatribe which, if it had emanated from an average litigant, would still have been regarded as shocking, but coming from one who occupies the exalted office of a State Governor, is nothing short of a national embarrassment.”
The NBA, therefore, demanded “an immediate apology from Governor David Umahi and a retraction of the comments made against the person and judgment of the Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court.”
The statement reads in part:
“Following the judgment, Umahi, in the course of a Press conference -video evidence of which is currently making the rounds on both both new and mainstream media – threw caution to the wind and deployed very uncomplimentary adjectives and intemperate language in characterising both the judgment and Hon. Justice Inyang Ekwo, including, but not limited to describing the judgment as ‘jungle justice’ and His Lordship as a ‘hatchet man’.
“As if these were not enough, Engr. Umahi accused the Court of ‘murdering justice’, and also arrogated to himself judicial powers and magisterial authority to declare the judgment of a Court of competent jurisdiction as null and void while unashamedly declaring his intention to disregard the judgment in favour of another.
“To put it mildly, this is impunity of the highest order and executive rascality taken too far.
“While the NBA has absolutely no interest in the outcome of the case in question, and will continue to stay away from partisan politics, it is inconceivable that this Association that is charged with upholding the rule of law, and defending the Judiciary will sit idly by in the face of this unprovoked and totally unwarranted attack on the Judiciary.
“Indeed, the Leadership of the NBA, has been inundated with calls from a cross-section of well-meaning Nigerians who are understandably outraged by the utterances of Engr Dave Umahi, and who have rightly demanded that appropriate action be taken to protect the sanctity of the Judiciary.
“It is for this reason that we condemn, without equivocation, Engr. Umahi’s unfortunate diatribe, which if it had emanated from an average litigant, would still have been regarded as shocking. But coming from one who occupies the exalted office of a State Governor, is nothing short of a national embarrassment.
“In the wake of the judgment, one would have expected Engr Umahi to sue for calm from his supporters, and to assure them that all legal and constitutional avenues would be explored to challenge the judgment.
“For H.E. Umahi to, instead resort to attacking and challenging the high office of a Judge in this unprecedented manner is disgraceful, undemocratic, and completely unacceptable.
“As Kayode Eso, JSC,of blessed memory famously noted, ‘the essence of the rule of law is that it should never operate under the rule of force or fear’.
“We view Engr. Umahi’s reaction to this judgment as being consistent with the current penchant of the Executive arm of Government for intimidating the Judiciary while taking advantage of the historical reluctance of that arm to rise to its own defence.
“In light of the foregoing, the NBA hereby demands an immediate apology from HE Engr. Dave Umahi, and a retraction of the comments he made against the person and judgment of the Hon.Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court. It is also our demand that the apology and retraction be given as much media coverage as the Press Conference where the unfortunate comments were made.”
Umahi has yet to react to NBA’s position.
Discover more from The Source
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
 has condemned, and described as unfortunate, embarrassing , and totally unacceptable, the reaction of the Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi to the Judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja which removed him and his Deputy, Kelechi Igwe, from office.){kind=link}