The Nigerian Bar Association President, Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, FCIArb, has condemned insulting remarks allegedly directed at a judicial officer by Kalu Kalu, Esq., during the 11 November 2026 edition of Politics Today, hosted by Seun Okinbaloye.
The NBA President maintained that lawyers have a professional responsibility to respect the courts, even when expressing disagreement with judicial decisions.
She stressed that criticism of judgments must be grounded in legal reasoning rather than personal attacks against judicial officers.
In a statement issued on behalf of the Nigerian Bar Association, she reaffirmed the Association’s commitment to judicial accountability and professional discipline, emphasising that lawyers must uphold the dignity of the legal profession both inside and outside the courtroom.
A LAWYER’S DUTY OF RESPECT DOES NOT END AT THE COURTROOM DOOR
My attention was recently drawn to insulting remarks directed at a judicial officer by Kalu Kalu, Esq. during the 11 November 2026 edition of Politics Today, hosted by Seun Okinbaloye. I have since obtained and watched a recording of the programme.
On behalf of the Nigerian Bar Association, I condemn the use of such language unequivocally. A lawyer’s disagreement with a judicial decision, however strongly held, cannot excuse personal abuse of the judge who delivered it.
Neither the intensity of a political controversy nor the platform on which a lawyer speaks relieves that lawyer of professional responsibility.
Lawyers have every right to examine judgments, challenge their reasoning and expose errors. Indeed, rigorous criticism contributes to the development of the law and the administration of justice.
Judges are accountable for their exercise of judicial power, and the NBA will continue to insist on that accountability. But personal insults do nothing to establish that a judgment is wrong.
They offer the public no legal analysis and provide no remedy for an aggrieved litigant. Instead, they diminish the quality of public debate and bring our profession into disrepute.
Broadcast clip: https://nigerianbar.online/assets/nba-kalu-kalu-politics-today-clip.mp4
Full Statement: https://blog.nigerianbar.org.ng/2026/11/13/a-lawyers-duty-of-respect-does-not-end-at-the-courtroom-door-2/
Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN FCIArb. President, Nigerian Bar Association
Related News:
- PRESIDENT TINUBU TO UNVEIL ‘WOLE OLANIPEKUN THROUGH THE CASES’ AT WOC JUSTICE SUMMIT ON NOVEMBER 19, 2026
- NBA-SPIDEL WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS, CALLS FOR MEMBERSHIP REGISTRATION
behind Games Village, Abuja
5A, CGH, Games Village, Abuja