…UDOM EMMANUEL AND POLYTECHNIC LAWYERS BY TOROBONG EKPO. Just a court order restraining the National Chairman and Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from submitting the name of Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, as the state gubernatorial candidate to Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has paved way for myriad of legal reactions from his praise singers, enemies and supporters. I read rejoinders written by legal luminaries such as: Emmanuel Enoidem, Uwemedimo Nwoko and Essien Esema. I also glanced through, a fallacious reasoning posted on internet by ‘Barrister’ Whitebombom (WBB). In this piece, I don’t intend to go deeper into WBB’s write-up, in order not to brand this feature a fairy tale. Barr. Enoidem and Nwoko in their separate responses argued that, the Federal High Court lacks jurisdiction to entertain such case. Barr. Essien Esema aligned with their submissions claiming that, Udom Emmanuel’s name was earlier submitted to INEC before the court injunction. He ignorantly refused to tell us, whose name was submitted as his running mate, since he knows everything. While trying to display his ‘I too sabi sense’ Esema argued that, INEC and PDP may not be aware of the court injunction, thereby portraying the Federal high court as incompetent of properly executing its Injunction. After independent assessment of almost all the reactions, I agreed that, in Akwa Ibom State, aside from qualified legal practitioners who are registered with Nigeria Bar Association, we also have at least three types of lawyers, namely; REDUNDANT, SYCOPHANTIC AND NDITO EDIDIA NSO LAWYERS. Redundant legal practitioners are those, who, by virtue of long term political office appointment, have refused to study decided cases, read legal system textbook and thereby forget the tenet of law profession. Sycophantic, are those attorneys who legally disgrace themselves in the public in order to please ‘the powers that be’. While, Ndito edidia nso lawyers are solicitors without basic requirement to practice (This is where WBB Falls into). You have the jurisdiction to allocate those that fall into the afore-listed groups. When cases are in court, it is a common knowledge that, any reaction on such case tantamount to SUBJUDICE or contempt of court, I was amazed to see these counsels’ reactions, who, if they were well educated, should have corrected the noisy public. Via their actions, they indirectly tarnished the image of their learned profession. I didn’t expect registered lawyers to respond in such manner, I think the professional body should interrogate, probe and debar them if they are found wanting, because it is a dent to the image of the profession. Today’s edition of Community Pulse Newspaper published the version of Barr. Emmanuel Enoidem as evidence before the court, Saturday’s Ibom Telegraph Newspaper, published that of Barr. Nwoko. It now behooves on the legal profession to take quick action before Journalists and columnist start analyzing court cases and point theirs as models. I am wondering if lawyers who passed through the University could behave like that, or do we also have ‘polytechnic lawyers’? Worst is that, they are people’s father, and I wonder what they would be teaching their wards who may crave to read law. It is amazing to see that, among the entire G22 governorship aspirant, only Ime Ekanem, an engineer injunction has given these ‘liars’ sleepless night. I somehow wonder what will happen when the legal champions such as: Asuquo Okpo, Assam Assam SAN, Effiong Abia and Ekpenyong Ntekim through their hat into the legal battle. That means Udom and his supporters will be running helter skelter. From the tone of the trio, it is observable that, the injunction has shaken the camp of the former SSG. If the injunction holds sway till next year, it means Udom’s aspiration will be relevant only to the realm of demons and familiar spirit. It is laughable to hear from a lawyer that, Udom’s name has been submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission, whereas, minutes after the order was issued, an INEC source confirmed that, such list was not available. Anyway, Esema should notify when the list was submitted and who was presented as the running mate. I even wonder, if Esema knew that he was accusing the court of giving staled injunction through his utterance. I am not a lawyer, as a lawman, I can authoritatively say that, this is a height of insult and disgrace to the noble profession. Someone should call these ‘liars’ to order. I expected Udom Gabriel Emmanuel to choose his friends rather than his friends choosing him. It is obvious that, his campaign hands are faulty. How can a man who walks with law infringers make a good governor? As it is, I don’t know if I should classify WBB as his media or legal assistant. These people are dramatists!
Posted on: Mon, 15 Dec 2014 07:14:37 +0000
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