In honour of the retired judge of the Federal High Court, Hon. Justice Ibrahim Buba, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, OON, SAN delivered a valedictory address at the Federal High Court Headquarters, Abuja on 9 February 2023. The NBA President extolled the virtues of Hon. Justice Buba who he described as “an exceptionally brilliant and forthright jurist, one that is courageous and fearless.”
In his address, the NBA President decried the state of insecurity in the country which has occasioned incessant attacks and assaults on Judges and lawyers, the latest being the assassination of His Honour, Mr Nnaemeka Ugboma, the Chairman of Ejemekwuru Customary Court in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State. He also bemoaned the scarcity of fuel and Naira and its impacts on the lives of citizens. In his words, “our country is being buffeted by several self-induced challenges which are not insurmountable if we are all dedicated and patriotic. I do not believe that currency swaps ought to have imposed hardship on Nigerian Citizens as we have been witnessing in the past two weeks. In the same way, fuel scarcity which we thought we had consigned into the dustbin of history has found its way back into our lives. It is doubtful if there is any Nigerian who has not experienced one form of hardship or another in the last one month as a result of queuing for fuel or searching for the new naira note! We can do better as the giant of Africa.”
According to the National Publicity Secretary, Akorede Habeeb Lawal, the President also had some words on professional conduct for lawyers and judicial officers alike, particularly in relation to some disparaging public comments made by some lawyers in the wake of the recent judgment of the Supreme Court in the case involving Machina and Ahmed Lawan (the Senate President). Referring to members of the Bar, the NBA President noted that “when we denigrate the Court or give a basis for others to do so, we are definitely not providing leadership to the people.”
In the same vein, the NBA President cautioned the judiciary and advised judicial officers to stay true and faithful to the code of conduct for judicial officers. His words: “While the NBA remains resolute on the protection of the independence and integrity of the Bench, the Bench must on the other hand stay true and faithful to the code of conduct for judicial officers, which calls for propriety and the appearance of propriety in your Lordships’ personal and professional relationships. The Code also requires your Lordships, in exercising the freedoms of expression, belief, association and assembly, to exercise restraint and adhere strictly to political silence for the purpose of maintaining your Lordships’ independence; not undermining the confidence in your Lordships impartiality and exposing your Lordships to political attacks inconsistent with the dignity of judicial officers.”
The NBA President concluded his address by congratulating Hon. Justice Buba on his successful retirement from the Bench of the Federal High Court.
The full address is herewith attached for your reference.