Agbakoba under fire over ‘Chicago State University madness’ remarks
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The source wondered why Agbakoba is always heard condemning the media, lawyers, or even a suggestive rebuke on the Lagos State House of Assembly anytime issues involve Tinubu.
A legal luminary and former president of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, has been heavily criticized for condemning the activities of lawyers and media personalities surrounding the discoveries at Chicago State University (CSU) following the suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the erstwhile All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate.
Agbakoba had made a post on his “X” (formerly Twitter) handle, @oagbakoba, entitled “This madness of Chicago State University must stop now!”
In the post on Monday, October 9, 2023, the legal icon condemned what he termed “cacophony of discordant voices on Tinubu/Atiku over the certificate matter”.
He said that Nigerians should keep their opinions and views to themselves while the country awaits the decision of the Supreme Court over the petitions filed by Atiku Abubakar and the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Gregory Obi, against the victory of Tinubu at the presidential election.
He expressed sadness that lawyers could be seen on television arguing one way or the other on the merits or demerits of the Chicago State University matter.
He tweeted: “The cacophony of discordant voices on Tinubu/Atiku over the certificate matter is completely out of hand. This utter nonsense from armchair lawyers is heating up Nigeria dangerously.
“Please can we keep our opinions and views to ourselves awaiting a decision of the Supreme Court.
“I am so ashamed to see Lawyers on Television arguing one way or the other on the merits or demerits of the Chicago State University matter. This is most unhelpful!”
He called out the media outlets “that tolerate this nonsense of adjudicating the CSU matter on TV and Newspapers” to desist.
He also urged the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to call out lawyers that breach rules of ethics by turning the media into a Court of Law.
Some Nigerians have, however, expressed disappointment and anger against Agbakoba, wondering if it’s the same person who recently said that he has lost confidence in the judiciary, especially the Supreme Court.
He had also noted that courts, including the apex court, are of recent dishing out incongruous decisions, citing the case of former Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, who did not contest election yet returned as a senator.
He expressed his waning confidence in the Nigerian courts and blamed his discouragement on such recent judgments.
An observer, who spoke to News Band on condition of anonymity, hence, expressed belief that Agbakoba is being hypocritical in the latest adventure.
He said that the legal icon may actually be sympathetic to Tinubu as he had, in the past, rebuked the media for criticizing Tinubu.
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He cited a PM NEWS newspaper publication of Tuesday, September 28, 1999, wherein Agbakoba ‘slammed the press over Tinubu’.
In the publication, Chief Agbakoba had berated the press over the perjury allegation against Tinubu, the then Governor Lagos State as widely reported in the media.
Agbakoba, who was at the Lagos State House of Assembly to honour a summons, said he was invited by the Investigative Panel set up by the House to advise the Panel of the constitutional implication of the matter.
He said: “Even you, the press, haven’t done a good job. So, I think it is important that the press also return to the duty of making things clear.
“We all know there is something to be said or done about forged certificate but the whole thing was so jumbled.”
He urged legislators of the Lagos State House of Assembly to consider the issue very carefully as they ‘face a very testy moment for democracy’.
The source wondered why Agbakoba is always heard condemning the media, lawyers, or even a suggestive rebuke on the Lagos State House of Assembly anytime issues involve Tinubu.
Another observer, a former presidential aide to former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and Publisher of Point Blank News, Mr. Jackson Ude, also heavily criticised Agbakoba.
Mr. Ude, taking to his “X” handle said:
“Olisa Agbakoba is one of the Lagos based elites who have become ostriches because their landlord has been finally caught for forging a Chicago State University certificate. SHAME!”
In the meantime, Atiku Abubakar has filed all the documents he received from Chicago State University against Tinubu at the Supreme Court which indicted the President in forgery, identity theft and fraud.
Atiku asked the court to disqualify Tinubu and affirm his as the winner of the February 25 presidential election. Read more.
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