From Paul Osuyi, Asaba
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has distanced itself from a group of lawyers who had staged a protest against an attempt by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to arrest the embattled former governor of Kogi State, Mr Yahaya Bello.
Over 500 lawyers were reported to have stormed the Supreme Court on Monday in protest to condemn what they described as EFCC’s illegal approach against Mr Bello.
But the NBA while recognizing the rights of citizens to assemble and protest, expressed doubt over the identity of the protesters as lawyers.
In a terse statement made available to our correspondent, the national publicity secretary of NBA, Akorede Habeeb Lawal said “For completeness, their supposed leader or convener – Sylvanus K. Alewu is not a name known to us.”
In the said protest, Alewu reported having lamented the EFCC’s attempt to arrest Mr Bello despite being served a valid court order restraining it from doing so.
Alewu said not only has Bello’s fundamental rights been breached, but the judiciary has also become willing tools in the hands of enemies of the rule of law.
The protesters reportedly urged the Judicial Council of Nigeria and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call EFCC to order to stop further abuse and disobedience of court injunctions.