Trial: Saraki’s counsel warns lawyers against contempt

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A fresh twist crept into the case of false asset declaration preferred against Senate President Bukola Saraki on Thursday, as his lawyer, Mr. Joseph Daudu (SAN), warned lawyers and journalists to be wary of contempt.

A statement signed by Daudu, which was obtained by our correspondent, expressed surprise that some lawyers faulted the Supreme Court for granting stay of proceedings in the case against Saraki.

Specifically, Daudu warned lawyers against passing negative comments on the decision of the Supreme Court, saying those doing so risked being held in contempt by the highest court in the country.

He said, “It is a known legal axiom that a decision of the Supreme Court of Nigeria cannot be illegal in any form or manner as it is binding on all persons and authorities in this country.

“If a person is aggrieved by the decision of the court, the only approach is to wait for an opportunity to arise and such a person can ask the court to overrule itself or depart its earlier decision.

“No amount of political inclination or rascality should prompt or compel a lawyer or even a layman to employ such uncouth language against the Supreme Court of Nigeria.”

He warned that he might be compelled to bring “contempt proceedings against all commentators seeking to prejudice the final outcome of the appeal on Saraki’s case.”

Daudu added, “Contrary to the impression that the panel of Supreme Court which rightly granted the stay of proceedings in the Saraki case is being disbanded because of a purported outcry against its ruling, it is the appellant, Saraki, who requested that a constitutional panel be constituted consisting of seven justices instead of the five that heard the stay of proceedings motion.”

He added that the request was contained in paragraph 2 of Saraki’s brief of argument, adding that this was in line with sections 233 (2) (b) and 234 of the 1999 Constitution.

Source: Punch