The Centre Against Injustice and Domestic Violence (CAIDOV) has called on the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to take disciplinary action against Mr. Aloy Ejimakor, counsel to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, over alleged professional misconduct.
The group accused Ejimakor of breaching professional ethics by participating in the recent “Free Nnamdi Kanu” protest in Abuja, describing his action as a violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct (RPC) for Legal Practitioners 2023, particularly Rule 33, which prohibits sub judice statements.
In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Comrade Gbenga Soloki, CAIDOV said the lawyer’s involvement in the protest could prejudice public perception and interfere with the fair trial of Kanu’s case.
“The law expects that lawyers argue their cases in court, not on the streets or protest grounds. Mr. Ejimakor’s action amounts to an attempt to sway public opinion and possibly influence the court’s view on a matter still under adjudication,” the statement read.
Soloki emphasized that the legal profession demands discipline, restraint, and respect for judicial processes, stressing that “emotions must never override ethics.” He described Ejimakor’s participation as “professional misconduct,” noting that every lawyer is bound by the law’s ethical standards regardless of who their client is.
CAIDOV further urged law enforcement agencies to investigate whether Ejimakor’s role in the protest posed any threat to national security or constituted contempt of court.
The group also called on the NBA Disciplinary Committee to review the lawyer’s conduct and impose appropriate sanctions to safeguard the integrity of the legal profession.
“Mr. Ejimakor made a serious error by joining a public protest on behalf of a client whose case he is handling. The NBA must act swiftly to show that professional ethics are non-negotiable,” CAIDOV stated.
