“What kind of hypocrisy is this?” – Wike accuses NBA of undermining judiciary
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has criticized the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), accusing the body of hypocrisy and actions that weaken the legal profession.
Wike made the remarks on Friday when he received the Body of Benchers, led by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), at his residence in Life Camp, Abuja.
The minister condemned the NBA’s tendency to declare Supreme Court judgments unconstitutional and illegal without thoroughly reading the rulings. He described this practice as unfortunate and detrimental to the legal system.
“We shall no longer allow our profession to be pulled down,” Wike declared. “You just heard a judgment had been given, you did not even have the opportunity of reading it. The next thing you do is go on national television to begin to criticize, and nothing happens.”
He urged the Body of Benchers to enforce disciplinary measures on erring lawyers, emphasizing that failure to do so would set a dangerous precedent.
“If nobody is disciplined, no lesson will be learned,” he added.
Alleges hypocrisy in NBA’s funding practices
Wike also criticized the NBA for accepting financial support from governments while labeling other contributions as bribery.
“When NBA was building their National Secretariat, they wrote to me, and I contributed. Nobody saw that as a bribe,” he stated.
“I was the only one who contributed to NBA to build the National Secretariat, and I said, ‘Name a floor after Rivers and not after me.’ NBA didn’t see it as a bribe. But when you contribute to the Body of Benchers, it is a bribe? When you contribute to the NBA, it is not a bribe? The same NBA will rely on state governments to sponsor them for activities, but that one is not a bribe?”
Wike criticizes NBA’s stance on Rivers crisis
Wike also accused the NBA of double standards in handling the crisis in Rivers State, suggesting that the association’s opposition to a state of emergency was influenced by the government’s decision to withhold funding for its Annual General Conference.
“They talk about a state of emergency in Rivers because the state government had assured them of hosting their conference. But now that no government is willing to bankroll it, they are making a fuss,” he alleged.
“What kind of hypocrisy is this? The time has come for us to say, ‘Enough is enough.’ We cannot continue to discourage our judges and justices.”
Defends judicial projects in Abuja
Responding to concerns about the construction of an Annex Building for the legal profession, Wike clarified that the project was approved by the President and passed in the National Assembly budget.
“The construction of the annex was not my decision as FCT Minister,” he explained, noting that similar projects such as the Court of Appeal complex and judges’ quarters in Katampe were also budgeted for.
Wike further revealed that the 2025 budget includes provisions for male and female hostels at the Nigerian Law School, Bwari, to ease accommodation challenges. He also assured the Body of Benchers that the staff housing project under construction would be handed over to the Council of Legal Education upon completion.
Additionally, he confirmed that a fire station at the Annex Building had been incorporated into the budget.
Calls for respect for the judiciary
Wike expressed concern over the distrust surrounding Nigerian judges, lamenting that judicial officers are afraid to interact publicly for fear of being accused of corruption.
“Judges cannot attend anything again because they are judges? You cannot worship your God because you are a judge?” he questioned.
He urged lawyers to defend the integrity of the judiciary rather than undermine it.
“I have never seen where members of a profession are the ones bringing the profession down. Nobody is perfect. All arms of government have problems. So why must it be the judiciary that people say nothing good happens there? It is not correct.”
Wike reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the legal profession, saying, “I will never miss the opportunity to contribute to the legal profession.”
