The Centre Against Injustice and Domestic Violence (CAIDOV) has urged the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to take prompt disciplinary action against Mr. Aloy Ejimakor, counsel to the detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, over alleged professional misconduct linked to his participation in the recent “Free Nnamdi Kanu” protest held in Abuja.
In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Comrade Gbenga Soloki, CAIDOV criticized Ejimakor’s presence and active involvement in the protest, describing it as a violation of professional ethics and a breach of the Rules of Professional Conduct (RPC) for Legal Practitioners 2023, specifically Rule 33, which prohibits sub judice statements.
Rule 33 provides that:
> “A lawyer or law firm engaged in or associated with the prosecution or defence of a criminal matter, or a civil action, shall not, while litigation is anticipated or pending, make or participate in making any extra-judicial statement likely to prejudice or interfere with the fair trial of the matter or its judgment.”
According to CAIDOV, Ejimakor’s involvement in the protest concerning a case he is directly handling could influence public opinion and potentially compromise the court’s impartiality.
> “Lawyers are expected to argue their cases in the courtroom, not on the streets or in the media. By joining the protest, Mr. Ejimakor attempted to sway public sentiment and, by extension, the court’s perception of a matter still being adjudicated,” the statement said.
The group emphasized that the legal profession requires discipline, restraint, and adherence to due process, warning that personal emotions must never override professional ethics.
> “Mr. Ejimakor’s action constitutes professional misconduct. The law is governed by principles, not emotions, and every lawyer is bound to uphold its standards regardless of their client,” CAIDOV added.
The organization further called on security agencies to investigate whether Ejimakor’s participation in the protest posed a threat to national security or amounted to contempt of court.
It also appealed to the NBA’s Disciplinary Committee to thoroughly review the lawyer’s conduct and take appropriate measures to uphold the integrity of the legal profession.
> “By publicly protesting for a client whose case he is handling, Mr. Ejimakor made a grave professional error. The NBA must act decisively to demonstrate that ethical standards in the legal profession are non-negotiable,” the group concluded.