I am both surprised and disappointed that @NigBarAssoc is celebrating this statement instead of distancing itself from it. As condemnable as the original order by the Magistrate in Ekiti State was, this statement is worse and more damaging. Let me explain…
First, there are ways of setting aside a court order. This statement does not say when, how, or under what circumstances the order was set aside. The order setting aside the original order is not available for anyone to assess its integrity. We are left to surmise how it occurred.
It is notable that the only complaint in this statement credited to the Chief Registrar is that the original order reflects poorly on “the image of the Ekiti State Judiciary.” The CR appears clearly incapable of understanding the nature of extent of the problem with the order.
3rd, the CR claims that “a panel of inquiry has been set up to investigate the matter.” At best, this sounds fictional. There is no law that enables judicial matters to be dealt with by a panel of inquiry. Such a panel would almost assuredly usurp the Judicial Service Commission.
This statement by the CR is part of a pattern that sadly shows that the judiciary in Ekiti State is manifestly lacking in independence. That was evident from the developments in @DeleFarotimi’s case. It was evident in the underlying order. It’s clear on the face of this statement.
Rather than celebrate this statement, @NigBarAssoc under the leadership of @afamosigwe owes a duty to itself and its members to disavow this. It should invite the Judicial Service Commission of Ekiti State to fully examine the circumstances of this Statement and sanction it.
Oluwadare T. O., a magistrate at the Ikole Magistrate Court in Ekiti State, had ordered the freezing of a bank account and arrest of anyone who approaches the bank with a ‘lift order without police permission’.
During the NBA’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Thursday, Afam Osigwe, the NBA president, said the association would investigate the matter and boycott proceedings in the court if they found the magistrate granted the order.
Social media was awash with criticism of the ruling after Oluwadare’s court order went viral.
The order, granted on January 23, was for a case between Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun and both Keystone Bank and Nineteenth Kid Estate Residents Association.
Oluwadare ordered that Keystone Bank provide certified true copies of the account opening package, statement of account from November 1, 2024, to date, and certificate of identification for the Nineteenth Kid Estate Residents Association to the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2 Headquarters, Onikan, Lagos State.
