A lawyer, identified on X as Lawyer Agboola, has exposed his human rights colleague, Inibehe Effiong, who stated that he's not aware of any law that prohibits a legal practitioner from protesting for the release of his client.
Effiong said this after presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, called for sanctions against lawyer Aloy Ejimakor for joining a protest to demand the release of his client, Nnamdi Kanu, charged with terrorism and treasonable felony.
He said, "I am not aware of any law or ethical rule in the legal profession that prohibits a legal practitioner or a counsel on record from taking part in a peaceful demonstration to ask or demand the release of his client.
"Your postulation is borne out of mischief. You cannot dictate to a Nigerian when or for what purpose to protest. The fact that your cowardly regime has unleashed violence on peaceful protesters is what you should be addressing."
Reacting, Agboola cited sections of RPC 2007 to prove that Effiong got his claim wrong.
He shared on X, "Counsel, your assertion, with due respect, is wrong. A lawyer defending a criminal case must act through the courts, not protests.
"Rules 1 & 30 of the RPC 2007 demand that lawyers uphold the rule of law and avoid conduct unbecoming of the profession. Protesting for a client's release undermines the court and invites discipline under the Legal Practitioners Act and Rules of Professional Conduct.
"Lawyers advocate in court, activists protest on the street."
Another lawyer, @ataweweattorney, said, "It is disheartening that a legal practitioner will post this to the public. A matter is currently before the court for adjudication and a lawyer representing the Def. Is busy protesting about the matter? By his conduct alone, he has breached Rule 1, 15 and 33 of RPC."
@kokomatic said, "No wonder you remain the first lawyer in history to be sent to prison ahead of his client. Olodo."
@thoughtsfromUSA said, "That's why they call you a Temu lawyer. A lawyer is having a case in court and the same lawyer is protesting over the same case in public. Isn't a way of undermining the court?"
ASA