By Paschal Njoku 

ABUJA – The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on Monday said the conduct of some politicians, judicial officers and lawyers are “disturbing” and conse­quently dragging the reputa­tion of the country’s judiciary to the mud.

NBA President, Olumide Akpata, stated this in an ad­dress at the maiden edition of the opening of 2021/2022 legal year of the Court of Appeal, Abuja.

“In more specific terms, it is particularly disturbing how politicians, aided by the conduct of some of our col­leagues, appear to be bring­ing disrepute to the hallowed chambers in their battles for political supremacy.

“Their target is to make a mockery of an institution that must always inspire con­fidence, trust and fairness.

“In particular, what may appear to be the ignoble roles and potential judicial rascal­ity of some of Judges in the internal political crisis of a major political party and the primary elections of a state few weeks ago, were eyesores better imagined than experi­enced”, Akpata said.

Also, he said the brutal use of force by those entrusted with the executive powers of the state, and the tendencies of men of means to corrupt the polity and to pervert the cause of justice has clearly demonstrated to Nigerians that no one is safe if there is no justice.

Represented by Yakubu Maikyau (SAN), the NBA president, however, empha­sised that Nigerians will con­tinue to look up to the courts for hope in the face of despair and justice in the midst of un­certainties.

Meanwhile, the President of the Court of Appeal, Jus­tice Monica Dongban-Men­sem, has pleaded with the Federal Government for an immediate upward review of salaries of judicial officers in the country.

Justice Dongban-Mensem revealed that salaries of judi­cial officers have been stagnat­ed for over 10 years.

The head of the appellate court lamented that the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), who is the Head of the Judiciary in Nigeria, as at today takes home N279,497.00 as monthly salary, while his brother Jus­tices on the Supreme Court bench go home with the sum of N206,425.00.

Justice Dongban-Mensem said as President of Court of Appeal, she receives the sum of N206,425.00 while other Justices on the bench of the Court of Appeal, go home with N166,285.00 every month.