The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) of displaying double standards and taking sides in the political crisis involving the opposition following its decision to refer lawyer Kalu Kalu to a disciplinary panel.
The party said the association’s action over Kalu’s comments about a Federal High Court judge was selective, warning it against allowing itself to be drawn into what it described as a political campaign against the opposition.
In a statement issued on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC questioned why the NBA had not shown similar concern when the Court of Appeal criticised the conduct of Justice Peter Lifu.
The party recalled that a June 2026 ruling of the appellate court reportedly described the judge’s conduct as the “highest form of judicial impertinence” and referred to a Supreme Court precedent on judicial rascality.
It asked why the NBA had not reacted with the same urgency when the concerns about the judge were raised by the appellate court.
The ADC said it supported professional restraint and respect for institutions but insisted that the NBA must not be perceived as aligning with the ruling party against opposition figures.
The party argued that personal attacks against judicial officers should not be encouraged, but maintained that lawyers must retain the freedom to speak against conduct they consider unjust.
It accused the association of concentrating on Kalu’s remarks instead of addressing alleged misconduct within the legal profession and the judiciary, which it said could undermine public confidence in the administration of justice.
“The NBA cannot demand respect for the judiciary while appearing indifferent to conduct that brings the judiciary into disrepute,” the party said, adding that respect for the courts should not be used to silence criticism of perceived injustice.
NBA petitions disciplinary panel
The NBA had petitioned the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee over comments Kalu made about Justice Lifu during the November 11 edition of Channels Television’s Politics Today, hosted by Seun Okinbaloye.
Kalu, an ADC member and lawyer to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, had described the judge as a “coconut judge” while discussing a November 5 Federal High Court judgment concerning the party’s leadership crisis.
During the programme, Kalu challenged interpretations that the judgment had effectively ruled Atiku out of the 2027 presidential race, insisting that the decision did not invalidate his candidacy.
His description of the judge prompted the presenter to caution him against disparaging a serving judicial officer on television. Kalu subsequently withdrew the remark, saying: “Because of time, I do withdraw it.”
NBA President, Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, said she had referred the matter to the disciplinary committee alongside the relevant broadcast materials.
She explained that lawyers were entitled to examine court judgments, challenge judicial reasoning and point out errors, but should do so through legal arguments rather than personal attacks on judicial officers.
The NBA president also said Kalu would have the opportunity to respond to the petition, while the disciplinary committee would determine whether his conduct amounted to professional misconduct and what sanction, if any, would be appropriate.
The ADC, however, maintained that the NBA must apply its standards consistently and avoid actions that could create the impression that it was taking sides in the country’s political disputes.
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