The Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) has commenced investigating the professional misconduct of some lawyers representing the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the sitting of the Osun State Election Petition Tribunal on September 10, 2014.
Speaking to newsmen in Osogbo, the state capital, the 3rd NBA Vice President, Barrister Akintokunbo Oluwole, said that although NBA frowns at any misconduct that would tarnish the image of the Law profession, the body would do a thorough investigation before any penalty is meted out.
He condemned the altercation which transpired amongst the counsels of both the PDP and APC but assured that each side would be given fair hearing.
He, however, made it clear that his mission is not to apportion blame to any of the parties involved but rather report back to the NBA for all necessary actions. He urged men of the noble profession to always conduct themselves with utmost civility in the discharge of their duties.
The second day of the inspection of election materials used during the August 9, governorship election in Osun State was stalled for over four hours as counsel to both the PDP and APC engaged in a physical fight.
The fight broke out within the premises of INEC in Osogbo, the state capital, when the PDP legal team objected to the idea of allowing the APC legal team record the daily activities of the inspection of the materials.
This led to an altercation in spite of the intervention of security agencies calling for calm. Barr Kehinde Adesiyan, a supporter of the PDP, allegedly launched an attack on Barr Daudu Akinloye, a member of the APC team.
