Reading time 1 minute
The Nigerian Bar Association on Monday raised concerns over cases of contradictory court judgments being witnessed in the country, especially among courts of coordinate jurisdiction.
It described the development as “antithetical” to the actualisation of a just society and independent judiciary.
The association’s position was contained in a statement by its President, Olumide Akpata.
The NBA particularly knocked lawyers, especially senior ones, who it said continue to yield themselves to be used as willing tools by politicians to wantonly abuse the judicial process.
The statement read, “The Nigerian Bar Association has observed with dismay the unfortunate and recurring trend of contradictory court decisions and orders, especially among courts of coordinate jurisdiction, typically arising from ex parte applications and almost always in political matters.
“While the Nigerian judiciary has in the past made invaluable contributions to the development of the country, there are nevertheless past failings which would hopefully remain permanently interred in the dark annals of history.
“It is in this regard that we view with concern the recurring contradictory decisions by our courts, based on apparently indiscriminate grant of orders and counter-orders, in a way that evokes memories of those eerie and unwanted dark days.
PUNCH
