NBA Petitions Kalu Kalu LPDC: Disparaging Judge Remarks

• The Nigerian Bar Association has petitioned the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee regarding lawyer Kalu Kalu.
• Kalu Kalu allegedly made insulting remarks about Justice Peter Lifu during a Channels Television program on November 11, 2026.
• NBA President Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya condemned the remarks, emphasizing that disagreement with a judgment does not excuse personal abuse of a judge.
• The action is based on the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners, 2023, which require respect for courts and outline complaint channels.
• The LPDC will investigate the matter, giving Kalu Kalu an opportunity to respond, and determine if professional misconduct occurred.

She articulated that a lawyer's intense disapproval of a court ruling does not justify personal abuse directed at the presiding judge.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has formally referred lawyer Kalu Kalu to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) following alleged insulting comments he made about a judicial officer. The remarks occurred during the November 11, 2026, broadcast of Channels Television’s "Politics Today," a program hosted by Seun Okinbaloye. Mr. Kalu was participating in a discussion centered on a Federal High Court judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu on November 5, 2026. This judgment addressed a leadership dispute within the African Democratic Congress and its potential ramifications for Atiku Abubakar’s 2027 presidential aspirations.

During the live television segment, Mr. Kalu reportedly made disparaging personal comments directed at Justice Lifu. The program’s host, Seun Okinbaloye, intervened, explicitly stating that he would not permit the platform to be used for "disparaging a sitting judge," including "calling him personal names and attacking his personality." Mr. Okinbaloye subsequently requested that Kalu withdraw his statements, to which the lawyer responded, "Because of time, I do withdraw it."

NBA President Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, publicly condemned the lawyer's remarks, announcing the disciplinary action via a statement on her X handle. Having reviewed a recording of the program, President Badejo-Okusanya underscored the imperative for lawyers to uphold professional conduct standards, even when expressing strong disagreement with judicial decisions. She articulated that a lawyer's intense disapproval of a court ruling does not justify personal abuse directed at the presiding judge. Furthermore, she clarified that neither the fervor of a political debate nor the specific platform used for expression absolves a lawyer of their professional responsibilities.

The NBA's petition to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) is grounded in the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners, 2023. These rules mandate that lawyers maintain elevated standards of professional conduct and treat courts with appropriate respect, dignity, and honor. President Badejo-Okusanya emphasized that these regulations also outline the proper channels available for lodging complaints against judicial officers, reinforcing that lawyers must adhere to these standards irrespective of the medium through which they voice their opinions, including television appearances.

The formal petition, accompanied by relevant broadcast materials, has been submitted to the LPDC for its review. The disciplinary process will afford Kalu Kalu an opportunity to present his response. Subsequently, the committee will determine whether professional misconduct occurred and, if so, what appropriate sanctions should be imposed. President Badejo-Okusanya affirmed that while the NBA respects due process, this does not compel the association to remain silent regarding language that falls below the expected standards for its members.

This action by the Nigerian Bar Association highlights a critical aspect of maintaining the integrity and credibility of the legal profession. President Badejo-Okusanya stressed that the profession must simultaneously hold the judiciary accountable and ensure rigorous discipline among its own members. The NBA's ability to fulfill both these roles is, in her view, fundamental to its credibility. The referral of Kalu Kalu to the LPDC serves as a potent reminder to all lawyers of the strict professional conduct rules governing public criticism of judicial officers.

It underscores that even profound disagreement with a judgment does not excuse personal attacks. Lawyers are expected to utilize formal complaint mechanisms rather than resorting to public disparagement, regardless of the platform. This proactive step by the NBA reinforces its commitment to upholding the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners 2023, ensuring that the legal community maintains respect for the judicial system while fostering an environment of responsible and ethical advocacy.

This development reminds lawyers of the strict professional conduct rules regarding public criticism of judicial officers, emphasizing that even strong disagreement with a judgment does not excuse personal attacks. Lawyers should be aware that the NBA actively monitors and refers such conduct to the LPDC, reinforcing the need to utilize formal complaint channels rather than public disparagement, regardless of the platform.

Source: Original reporting via PUNCH