The African Democratic Congress has cautioned the Nigerian Bar Association against taking disciplinary action against lawyer and politician Kalu Kalu, arguing that the move risks drawing the professional body into a political fight against the opposition.
In a statement issued on Saturday, November 14, and signed by National Publicity Secretary Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said the NBA’s decision to initiate proceedings over Kalu’s remarks concerning Justice Peter Lifu appeared selective. The party noted that the Court of Appeal had already levelled stronger criticism against the same judge in a June 2026 ruling.
According to the ADC, the appellate court described Justice Lifu’s conduct as the “highest form of judicial impertinence.” It also cited a Supreme Court precedent characterising such behaviour as judicial rascality and indicated that a judge found responsible would be unfit to remain on the Bench.
“Why is the NBA only now finding its voice because a politician, who also happens to be a lawyer, has said something that some people find uncomfortable? What has Kalu Kalu said about Justice Peter Lifu that the Court of Appeal has not already said?” the statement asked.
The opposition party questioned the NBA’s earlier silence on the appellate court’s concerns. It said the Association must avoid any perception that it is aligning with the ruling party, which the ADC claimed has openly boasted of influencing judicial institutions and the Bar.
“We respect the NBA for its noble history in the defence of democracy and the rule of law. However, the Association must be careful not to allow itself to be perceived as throwing its hat into the political ring on the side of a ruling party that already boasts openly of hijacking our judicial institutions and the Nigerian Bar,” the ADC stated.
The party maintained that Kalu’s comments did not damage the judiciary’s reputation. Instead, it argued that alleged misconduct by judges and lawyers involved in compromising judicial processes posed a greater threat to public confidence.
“It is not Kalu’s words that smear the judiciary. What discredits the Bench and the Bar is the conduct of conscienceless judges like Lifu and equally conscienceless lawyers who are alleged to operate a network of client judges in the service of conscienceless politicians in power,” the statement said.
The ADC described Kalu as a courageous lawyer who should not be punished for expressing political views. It insisted that lawyers must be free to speak against perceived injustice without being silenced under the guise of institutional respect.
“The NBA is not a political party. It must, therefore, not be seen to be behaving like a member of a political coalition against the opposition, whose demand is simply that justice be done, that the rule of law be protected and that democracy be preserved,” the party said.
While acknowledging that lawyers should exercise restraint and uphold professional standards, the ADC argued that such expectations should not prevent criticism of wrongdoing.
“We agree that lawyers must exercise restraint. But there is no respectful way to address evil, and the NBA cannot teach us one,” the statement concluded.
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