Kano Emirship Tussle: Save Legal Profession

A non-governmental organisation, Citizens’ Gavel, has called on the National Judicial Council (NJC) and Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to take urgent steps to correct the exposure of the legal profession to disrepute and opprobrium due in the ongoing emirship tussle in Kano State.

The NGO said it was keenly following the tussle and was particularly concerned that the courts as well as some lawyers had allowed themselves to be used as tools by the combatants to the detriment of not just the legal profession but the peace and security of residents of Kano State.
Citizens’ Gavel which promotes the rule of law and democratic principles by accelerating the pace of justice delivery through access to justice, accountability, digital technology, and advocacy said this in a statement signed by its team lead, Nelson Olanipekun.

Olanipekun said reminded both the NJC and the NBA that as disciplinary bodies, they shoulder the responsibility of shaping public perception of the judiciary and by extension, the legal profession and that no one will respect much less have recourse to the judiciary if conducts which expose the entire legal profession to disrepute and opprobrium are not corrected through sanctions.

He said conflicting court orders emanating from the Federal High Court and the Kano State High Court as well as the actual tussle between Bayero and Sanisu for the soul of Kano Emirate had sparked protest in Kano State which led Governor Abba Yusuf to ban all public demonstrations and to direct security forces to arrest any individual involved in same.