I am both surprised & disappointed that @NigBarAssoc is celebrating this statement instead of distancing itself from it. As condemnable as the original order by the Magistrate in Ekiti State was, this statement is worse & more damaging.
Let me explain…1st, there are ways of setting aside a court order. This statement does not say when, how, or under what circumstances the order was set aside. The order setting aside the original order is not available for anyone to assess its integrity. We are left to surmise how it occured.
It is notable that the only complaint in this statement credited to the Chief Registrar is that the original order reflects poorly on “the image of the Ekiti State Judiciary.”
The CR appears clearly incapable of understanding the nature of extent of the problem with the order.
3rd, the CR claims that “a panel of inquiry has been set up to investigate the matter.” At best, this sounds fictional. There is no law that enables judicial matters to be dealt with by a panel of inquiry. Such a panel wld almost assuredly usurp the Judicial Service Commission.
This statement by the CR is part of a pattern that sadly shows that the judiciary in Ekiti State is manifestly lacking in independence. That was evident from the developments in @DeleFarotimi’s case. It was evident in the underlying order.
It’s clear on the face of this statement Rather than celebrate this statement, @NigBarAssoc under the leadership of @afamosigwe owes a duty to the itself & its members to disavow this. It should invite the Judicial Service Commission of Ekiti State to fully examine the circumstances of this Statement & sanction it.
Comment from me: From a legal point of view, the press release is practically illiterate. You can’t use an administrative procedure to cure an errant judicial proclamation. A judicial order is like a live electric wire! It can only be neutralized from the source point, not by press release.
