Lagos NBA Chairman, Makanjuola, Wants Frivolous Lawyers Sanctioned
By Felix Kuyinu
Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Lagos Branch, Olabisi Makanjuola has proposed that legal practitioners who counter, denigrate the judiciary over an unfavorable decision should be sanctioned.
Makanjuola suggested that individuals in such act should have their Continuing Professional Development (CPD), retrieved from them.
He said his opinion, if allowed will filter the judicial system in reducing the number of cases filed in court or that end up on appeal as well as decongesting the courts and reducing delays and workload of judges and justices.
Makanjuola Speaking at the Branch’s dinner get-together held on Friday at the Queens Park Event Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, said not all cases filed in court qualify for adjudication.
“There needs to be a filter on the types of cases that get into our court system. In Nigeria today, there is an automatic right of access to court,” he began.
“I can go to court to file a suit against you asking for a declaration that you’re a woman even though I know you’re a man, or that you’re a woman when I know you’re a man, and the court will accept such processes.
“So, until there is a filter, where litigants no longer have an automatic right to access the court; and until lawyers begin to lose CPD points for filing bad cases, the problem will persist.
“Appointing more judges will not solve the problem because the challenges of lack of infrastructure, facilities and inadequate remuneration are yet to be addressed, so why put more judges in harm’s way?”
The legal practitioner urged the NBA to go tough on lawyers who attack and denigrate the Judiciary when they lose cases as cases are won and lost based on argument and cogent proof brought before court. He noted that lawyers must protect the sanctity and integrity of the legal system
“Judges are as good as the arguments that lawyers have canvassed. So I think it’s wrong to criticise court judgments in the media.
“We have the appellate system, so matters can go all the way to the Supreme Court. A situation where senior lawyers or colleagues castigate the court over decisions should be discouraged.
” The NBA has a role to play. When lawyers disrespect the judiciary, the association should be able to clamp down on such lawyers.
“So, the NBA at the national level should go hard on lawyers who bring the judiciary to disrepute, and the branches will follow suit. Where we find any of our members culpable, we’ll take the right measures to discipline such member.”
