Redaction Africa Links 24 with Legit.ng
Published on 2024-04-03 23:22:58
A prominent Nigerian lawyer, Jibrin Sam Okutepa, SAN, is currently facing backlash for his comments on the Kogi gubernatorial election. The Youth Advocacy Network, a group concerned with social and political issues, has accused Okutepa of making misguided statements about the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) during the election. This has led to calls for the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and other regulatory bodies overseeing legal practitioners to investigate Okutepa’s comments and possibly sanction him.
Following the Kogi governorship election held in November 2023, the Youth Advocacy Network raised serious concerns over the comments made by Jibrin Sam Okutepa, SAN, regarding the BVAS used in certain local government areas during the election. Along with a member of his legal team, Barrister Rilwan Okpanachi, Okutepa’s remarks reportedly incited anger among Kogi residents.
In a statement signed by its convener, Comrade Seun Adeaanu, the group emphasized the importance of lawyers adhering to ethical principles outlined in the Rules of Professional Conduct and maintaining the integrity of the legal system. The group highlighted Okutepa’s actions as potentially violating established ethical standards and jeopardizing the integrity of legal practice in society. Consequently, they urged regulatory bodies such as the NBA, the General Council of the Bar, the Body of Benchers, and the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee to address these ethical breaches and impose appropriate sanctions if necessary.
The group stressed the significance of upholding the highest standards of professional conduct to preserve the integrity of the legal system and ensure access to justice for all. They called for thorough investigations into the conduct of legal practitioners involved in ethical breaches and urged regulatory bodies to take necessary actions to maintain ethical accountability within the legal profession.
Moreover, a report by New Telegraph quoted the group’s statement, which criticized Okutepa for allegedly tarnishing the reputation of the Kogi State government since power shifted from the East to the Central region. The group accused him of orchestrating acts to create chaos and turmoil in the state through his social media presence, television appearances, and alleged involvement in protests against the government in recent years.
In a separate incident, the Kogi state police command reported that gunmen attacked the secretary of the state governorship election tribunal, David Umar Mike, in Lokoja. The attackers reportedly stole sensitive petition documents related to the recently concluded gubernatorial election in the state.
Overall, the controversy surrounding Jibrin Sam Okutepa’s comments on the Kogi election has sparked debates about ethical accountability in the legal profession and the need for regulatory bodies to uphold professional standards. The calls for sanctions and investigations underscore the importance of maintaining ethical integrity and ensuring justice and fairness in legal practice.
Read the original article on Legit.ng
