‘I’m not against Kano State government’, says federal judge in emotional outburst
Emotions were high in Courtroom No. 3 of the Federal High Court, Kano Division on Friday, as Justice Simon Amobeda reacted to an application filed before him to recuse himself from hearing a case related to the local government election held in Kano last October.
It took the intervention of senior lawyers like Ademoyega Awomolo, SAN; John Bayyshea, SAN and Nureini Jimoh, SAN to calm nerves.
Justice Amobeda was particularly annoyed at the application for recusal filed by Usman Umar Fari, saying he does not belong “to the other side” as alleged but rather to the side of justice.
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Visibly angry, the judge said lawyers in Kano State have been saying “despicable things” about him, adding that only “lazy lawyers” make applications for recusal.
He said he was not against Kano State government, but “against the impunity of the state”, adding that he had delivered judgements that favoured the government in some cases.
While intervening to calm the judge who said he was pained by the the claims in the applicatio, Awomolo said “I have seen the level of emotion in your lordship”, while pleading for circumspect.
While responding to the judge’s expression of anger, Jimoh said “Simon Amobeda can be angry, but Honourable Justice Simon Anobeda should not be angry.”
Application not heard
The application for recusal could not be heard due to lack of service on other parties, but Justice Amobeda said he would hear it and decide appropriately.
“The hearing of the motion for recuse, and if possible, other applications, would be taken on 21st of January, 2025”, he said as he adjourned the case.
‘Applications for recusal are legal’
Responding to the claims that lawyers who apply for recusal are lazy, a Lagos-based legal practitioner, Nathaniel Olijeh, said “that was a false claim. In fact, only lawyer who combine the attributes of smartness and braveness apply for a judges recusal.”
He said such applications are legal and normal. “They are part of the mechanisms put in place to to to sustain fairness and equality before the law. A judge should not feel bad over such an application at all. To some judges, as soon as you raise this application before them, they do not hesitate to refrian from handling the case any furuther.
“They serve as safeguards against potential biases and conflicts of interest that could undermine public trust in judicial outcomes.
“Let me tell you, even the Supreme Court Justice recused themselves for the Abiola FRN case when GOK Ajayi, one of the most respected Nigerian lawyers, raised this application before them. I think that is the way to go.”
- This story was edited by the editor to include a lawyer’s response
