The Nigerian Bar Association in Rivers State has condemned a public statement attributed to the dismissed Caretaker Committee Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in the state, Chief Tony Okocha, regarding judges of the High Court and the state judiciary.
The NBA specifically described the allegations against a State High Court judge, Justice Sika Aprioku, who recently ruled in a case that dismissed the Okocha-led seven-member CTC and reinstated Chief Emeka Beke, as ‘spurious, unfounded, and contemptible’.
It should be recalled that Okocha, in a press briefing shortly after his dismissal as the State APC CTC Chairman, accused the judge of bribery, referring to the ruling as a “supermarket judgment.”
However, during a press conference in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, the NBA, represented by its eight branch chairmen in Rivers State, described Okocha’s claims as “distasteful” and “contemptible,” and demanded a public apology.
The Chairperson of the NBA Port Harcourt Branch, Mrs. Cordelia Eke, who read the association’s position, stated that litigants could not choose which judge handles their case and should not make baseless allegations of bias or bribery without evidence.
The statement was signed by Cordelia U. Eke, Chairperson of the Port Harcourt Branch; Dr Cashmia Ofurum, Chairperson of the Ahoada Branch; Dr Celestine N. Nwankwo, Chairperson of the Bori Branch; Hilda Desmond-Ihekaire (PhD), Chairperson of the Okehi Branch; Dr Nuleera Ambrose Duson, Chairperson of the Degema Branch; Abiye A. Abo, Chairperson of the Okrika Branch; Tamunosiki A. Roberts, Chairperson of the Omoku Branch; and Ekeledinichukwu Ordu, Chairperson.
They warned that such attacks erode public trust in the judiciary and are actionable by law, urging Okocha to appeal the judgment if dissatisfied, rather than resorting to name-calling and abuse against the judge.
The NBA, therefore, demanded that Okocha immediately retract his statements and publicly apologise to the affected judges, including Justice S.H. Aprioku, Justice C.N. Wali, and Justice G.O. Ollor.
Eke emphasised that judges are apolitical and operate under a strict Code of Conduct, and should not be subjected to harassment or abuse, warning that such unfounded comments amount to contempt and may attract legal action.
The statement read in part, “The attention of the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association in Rivers State has been drawn to a very distasteful press briefing and news report circulated via electronic and social media by Chief Tony Okocha against the person of Hon. Justice S.H. Aprioku, and the legal profession in general, by the unfounded labelling of a judge as a bribe-taker.
“In the report, Chief Tony Okocha made unsubstantiated allegations that the judge was bribed, and as a result, he became biased against the defendants.
“Any allegation of bribery against a judge must be founded on incontrovertible evidence, not hearsay, as it has grave implications for the image of the judiciary.
“In view of the above, we, the chairpersons of the eight branches of the NBA in Rivers State, hereby condemn the public statement of Chief Tony Okocha and call on him to immediately retract his statement denigrating the judiciary in Rivers State, which he referred to as a supermarket.
“And we are calling on him to tender a public apology within a short time to the respected judges of the High Court of Rivers State, particularly Honourable Justice S.H. Aprioku, Honourable Justice C.N. Wali, and Honourable Justice G.O. Ollor, who, indeed, from all available facts, have not taken any steps in the matter pending before them to warrant the barrage of insults from the petitioner, Chief Tony Okocha.”
However, speaking on a popular radio talk show (Nigeria Info 93.2) in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, Okocha dismissed the NBA’s demand for an apology over his criticism of the judges in the state, calling it “trash.”
Stating that he would not apologise for speaking the truth, Okocha revealed that his petition against six judges in the state was already before the National Judicial Council (NJC).
“I am sure they know that I have written a petition against this judge and six other judges in Rivers State, and they are currently before the NJC.
“I also wrote a petition dated 20th March 2024, where I accused him of bias. I will not apologise. I have done nothing wrong and will not tender any apology to anybody.”
Okocha also questioned the legitimacy of the NBA Forum of Chairmen, alleging that it is not registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission, saying, “I have done nothing to warrant an apology to anybody—not even the NBA Chairmen Forum. I am sure that organisation is not registered with CAC.
“I do not acknowledge the APC judgment in Rivers State that I will accept. But the law is the law. Apologies to whom? I read this yesterday and threw it in the trash. I heard about the NBA Chairmen Forum for the first time. I have been in government for many years, and I have never heard of that nomenclature before. Are they saying that this issue was discussed in their respective branches, and they have the mandate of the branches to go on air?”
“Or does someone assume a position because they are the chairperson of a group and claim to be speaking for that group? I also have my group of lawyers who will respond to this. As far as I am concerned, it is trash,” he said.
