By Ike Uchechukwu

CALABAR—Mba Ekpezu Ukweni, SAN, has condemned the involvement of a SAN in bribery and corruption.

Speaking with Vanguard, yesterday in Calabar, Cross River State, he noted that it was a very sad development.

He said: “It is a sad development and an unfortunate thing. It is a very unfortunate scenario for a Senior Advocate of Nigeria to be involved in bribing a judge.

Judicial

“As a SAN, his status has placed him in a position to act as a beacon of light, give direction to others. He is supposed to be a shining example to other members of the profession particularly, the junior ones and then the society generally.

“If the court has found a SAN guilty of bribery and corruption, it is very unfortunate because, I am not anticipating what may happen next, but I don’t think such a person  deserves that rank any longer. That is one of the things that is being re-echoed, though there are still appeal processes, which are yet to be exhausted in this case.

“When we  were at a conference on administration of criminal justice reforms, the same issue came up at one of the sessions. It was noted that very senior members of the Bar who should act as examples to others are the ones encouraging despicable conduct of corruption in the profession.”

“The judiciary being the last hope of people, those of us who are the major players in the temple of justice are supposed to be up right, we should act beyond suspicion. While we sympathized with the situation,  at the same time, it doesn’t tell well for the rank of SAN.

“Without pre-empting what may be next, and unless the conviction is upturn on appeal, there is just no way  an ex-convict can carry the rank of SAN,  he can’t wear the silk any longer but I am not pre-empting what may happen next, I don’t see the legal practitioner privileges committee leaving him with the rank,” he stressed.