“What Kind Of Hypocrisy Is This?” – Wike Slams NBA For Opposing Rivers State Of Emergency

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike has criticized the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for opposing President Bola Tinubu’s proposed state of emergency in Rivers State.

Wike accused the NBA of rejecting the move because the Rivers State government had agreed to sponsor their annual general conference.

He made this claim on Friday when he met with officials of the Body of Benchers, led by its Chairman, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), in Abuja.

According to Wike, the NBA’s stance was financially motivated.

The former Rivers governor alleged that they don’t support the state of emergency because there would be no money to fund their conference.

“What kind of hypocrisy is this?” he queried.

He urged the Body of Benchers to rein in the NBA, warning that the association’s frequent criticism of the judiciary was damaging the legal profession.

Wike expressed concern over lawyers publicly attacking court rulings without thoroughly reviewing them, saying such behavior had become widespread and unpunished.

He said, “If you don’t discipline somebody, nobody will learn any lesson.

“We shall no longer allow our profession to be pulled down. I cannot believe, as a lawyer, that you make a contribution to help the legal profession and you will be criticised by your fellow lawyers.

“Sir, time has come that we need to say look, enough is enough. We cannot continue to discourage our judges and justices. It is not done anywhere.

“I have never seen where members of a profession are the ones that are bent on bringing the profession down.”

Wike also criticized the NBA for labeling government support to the judiciary as bribery while accepting financial assistance for their own activities.

He recalled that when the NBA sought funds to construct its national secretariat, it approached the government for support, yet no one considered it a bribe.

“I was the only one who contributed to the NBA to build the National Secretariat. The NBA didn’t see it as a bribe.

“When you contribute to the Body of Benchers, it is a bribe, but when you contribute to NBA it is not a bribe, they will take it.

“The same NBA will rely on state governments to sponsor their activities, but when the state government supports the judiciary, it is bribery,” he added.

The minister further lamented that constant scrutiny and accusations had made judges fearful of public interactions.

He claimed that many now avoid social gatherings, religious events, and even simple gestures like handshakes due to fears of being accused of corruption.

“It has gotten to the stage that our judges are so scared of going to a mosque or church or even greeting somebody they know because of fear of bribery.

“They run away from shaking people’s hands because they will start accusing them of collecting bride. This must stop,” Wike added.

KanyiDaily recalls that the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) condemned President Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers and the subsequent suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.