Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has criticized the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for opposing a possible state of emergency in Rivers State. He accused the NBA of taking this stance because the Rivers State Government had committed to hosting and funding its annual general conference.
Wike made these remarks in Abuja on Friday while receiving officials from the Body of Benchers, a top legal group, led by its chairman, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN). He expressed disappointment, saying the NBA’s position was influenced by financial interests rather than legal concerns.
The minister questioned why the NBA was against the federal government’s intervention in Rivers State, calling their actions “hypocritical.” He urged the Body of Benchers to step in, accusing the NBA of frequently criticizing the judiciary without proper justification.
Wike further alleged that some lawyers publicly denounce judicial decisions without fully understanding them, a practice he believes continues because there are no consequences.
“If you don’t discipline somebody, nobody will learn any lesson,” he said. “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 will be criticized by your fellow lawyers.”
The minister also accused the NBA of having double standards, pointing out that the association accepts financial support from state governments but calls it “bribery” when the judiciary receives funding.
“I was the only one who contributed to the NBA to build the National Secretariat. The NBA didn’t see it as a bribe,” he recalled. “But when you contribute to the Body of Benchers, it is a bribe. The same NBA will rely on state governments to sponsor their activities, but when the state government supports the judiciary, it is bribery.”
Wike added that constant criticism has made judges fearful of attending public events or even shaking hands in case they are accused of taking bribes.
“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,” he said. “They run away from shaking people’s hands because they will start accusing them of collecting bribes. This must stop.”
He urged the Body of Benchers to take action against lawyers who undermine the legal profession, saying it was time to put an end to the attacks on the judiciary.