A team of lawyers representing Saraki walked out on the tribunal after it refused their application to suspend proceedings, but one of the lawyers, Mahmud Magaji, denied walking out on the judge. He said the defence counsel was permitted to leave after applying to “withdraw “from the case.
But a former NBA President Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) said:
“It is within a counsel’s right to withdraw further appearance for his client at anytime of his calling. He of course will inform the judge of his decision before exiting the walls of the court. This will not be tantamount to waking out on the court or judge,” he said.
One of the oldest SANs, Chief Felix Fagbohungbe, said it is against the ethics of the legal profession for a lawyer to walk out on a judge in protest, but a lawyer cannot be sanctioned if he leaves the courtroom on the judge’s permission or after a ruling had been delivered."
Mr. Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN), said the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners does not provide for an express right of walk-out while a case is still on going.
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