By Global Right Nigeria

To the Chairman, Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee,

We write to bring to your attention the conduct of Mr. Rimazonte Ezekiel, whose recent actions have cast a serious shadow over the legal profession in Nigeria. Mr. Ezekiel, who represented the Federal Government in the recent case involving minors arraigned before Justice Obiara Egwuatu for participating in the #EndBadGovernance protests, made blatantly false statements to the media in a manner that has shocked both the public and the legal community.

In a widely circulated interview, Mr. Ezekiel claimed that the minors who fainted in court due to evident malnourishment and mistreatment were not children but adults. He further alleged that these minors were “married men” and “university graduates.” Such cynical and malicious misrepresentation of facts, aimed at undermining the plight of children, is conduct unbecoming of someone who has earned the privilege of being called to the Nigerian Bar. Mr. Ezekiel’s statements, now widely shared on social media, have justifiably drawn public outrage and ridicule, with many Nigerians viewing his actions as emblematic of the legal profession in Nigeria. This cannot be allowed to stand.

The rationale for Mr. Ezekiel’s conduct is both disturbing and clear. On 1 November 2024, Nigerians and observers around the world witnessed the shocking scene in a federal courtroom, where several visibly malnourished minors collapsed from hunger. This court, intended to serve as a hallowed hall of justice, was instead a site of injustice and tragedy. In an apparent attempt to shield the government from criticism, Mr. Ezekiel fabricated an account, claiming that “most of them are married men” and alleging that “the small kids” were simply “visiting loved ones in court.” The absurdity of these claims was so pronounced that two other lawyers present during the interview were visibly amused.

While public statements to the media are not under oath, legal practitioners are required by the ethics of their profession to at all times maintain high standards of honesty and integrity. Section 1 of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners requires that: “A lawyer shall uphold

and observe the rule of law, promote and foster the course of justice, maintain a high standard of professional conduct, and shall not engage in any conduct which is unbecoming of a legal practitioner.” Furthermore, Section 30 states, “A lawyer is an officer of the Court, and accordingly, he shall not do any act or conduct himself in a manner that may obstruct, delay, or adversely

affect the administration of justice.” Mr. Ezekiel’s attempt to frame minors as adults in order to justify their continued detention and maltreatment constitutes a gross violation of these standards and reflects a severe lapse in ethical judgment.

Deeply troubled by what we saw and concerned for the image of the legal profession in Nigeria, we respectfully request that the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee, in furtherance of its

mandate to uphold professional integrity among lawyers, investigate this matter thoroughly and consider appropriate disciplinary actions against Mr. Rimazonte Ezekiel.

We trust that you will consider this request seriously and take swift action to uphold the values and standards of the legal profession.

Yours sincerely,

 

Abiodun Baiyewu

Executive Director, Global Rights