Olanipekun to NBA: Suspending ‘Corrupt’ Judges from the Bench

• Dangerous to Judiciary
• To settle obaship row in Ikere

By Olakiitan Victor in Ado Ekiti

Contrary to the position canvassed  by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) that judges arrested for alleged corruption  be asked to resign  pending the resolution of the matter, a senior lawyer, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN),  has warned that  this will lead to the total collapse of the judicial arm.

Olanipekun said  though he is in support of the NBA’s president, Mr.

Mahmoud Abubakar, in  his view that the bench should be rid of corruption, but added that  the integrity of the judiciary would  be greatly demeaned and undermined  if such policy is implemented.

The senior lawyer was reacting to the position of the NBA asking the National Judicial Council (NJC)  to place the five federal and Supreme Courts’  judges arrested by the Department of State Security (DSS)  on leave pending the time the issue would be resolved.

Speaking in Ikere Ekiti at the weekend after being conferred with the chieftaincy title of Asiwaju of Ikere land, Olanipekun said any president and governor accused of corruption should also step down, so that the policy can be implemented across board.

The lawyer promised to use his new status to unite all the warring factions in the town, particularly to find amicable resolution to the supremacy battle between Ogoga of Ikere , Oba Adejimi Adu and the Olukere of Ikere Ekiti, Oba Ganiyu Obasoyin.

“I support the idea that the judiciary must rid of corruption, but I disagree with the NBA on this issue that judges alleged of corruption should stop handling cases. This quickly suggests that politicians and petition writers  will use the opportunity to continue to level allegations against judges and a time will come that there won’t be any judge  on the bench to handle cases.

“If that will be the case, it has to cut across board, let any president, governor or political office holder accused of corruption also be  asked to resign, for fairness, equity and justice.

“Some are saying that these Judges should be dealt with like every

other common Nigerian, the fact remains that they are not ordinary

Nigerians. President Muhamadu  Buhari heads  the executive, Bukola

Saraki leads the Senate, Yakubu Dogara leads the House of

Representatives and  likewise governors of the  states, these are not

ordinary Nigerians just like these judges, they head the judiciary.

“Even if the judges are  ordinary Nigerians, they must enjoy rights to

dignity and self-respect as enshrined in the constitution. So, the NBA

should not oversimplify the issue. If you say a Judge has been accused of corruption and should leave the bench is very dangerous to the judiciary.

“There are so many things to think of here, what if the judges are

not found guilty eventually and they are given a clean bill, it means we have prejudged  them.

“I want to say with respect to the NBA president that I disagree with

this stand and this is my humble opinion. But I support that corruption must not be allowed in the judiciary, because that arm is very crucial to our survival as a nation,” he said.

Praising Ogoga for bestowing  the honour on him, Olanipekun promised

to redouble his efforts to the service of Ikere Ekiti  through robust

scholarship scheme and offering of leadership at all levels.