The Nigerian Bar Association has referred lawyer Kalu Kalu to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee over alleged derogatory comments he made about a judicial officer during a live television discussion.
NBA President, Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, announced the development in a statement shared on her X handle on Friday, condemning the lawyer’s conduct during the November 11, 2026 edition of Channels Television’s Politics Today, anchored by Seun Okinbaloye.
Kalu had appeared on the programme to discuss a November 5 judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court concerning the leadership dispute in the African Democratic Congress and its possible impact on Atiku Abubakar’s 2027 presidential ambition.
During the discussion, the lawyer made personal comments about the judge, prompting the programme host to intervene and caution him against attacking the judicial officer.
Okinbaloye said, “I would not allow you to use this platform to disparage a sitting judge… calling him personal names and attacking his personality. I’m sorry, I wouldn’t allow you to do that.”
The presenter subsequently asked Kalu to withdraw his remarks, to which the lawyer replied, “Because of time, I do withdraw it.”
Reacting to the incident, Badejo-Okusanya said she had watched a recording of the programme and found the lawyer’s comments unacceptable, stressing that members of the legal profession must observe professional standards even when criticising court decisions.
She stated, “A lawyer’s disagreement with a judicial decision, however strongly held, cannot excuse personal abuse of the judge who delivered it. Neither the intensity of a political controversy nor the platform on which a lawyer speaks relieves that lawyer of professional responsibility.”
The NBA president acknowledged that legal practitioners were entitled to examine court judgments, question their reasoning and point out errors, describing constructive criticism as essential to the growth of the law and the justice system.
However, she argued that attacking judges personally did not contribute to meaningful legal discussions and could damage the reputation of the profession.
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“Personal insults do nothing to establish that a judgment is wrong. They offer the public no legal analysis and provide no remedy for an aggrieved litigant. Instead, they diminish the quality of public debate and bring our profession into disrepute,” she stated.
She also referenced the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners, 2023, which require lawyers to uphold professional standards and accord courts the respect, dignity and honour they deserve.
According to her, the rules equally establish recognised procedures through which legal practitioners can raise complaints against judicial officers.
Badejo-Okusanya maintained that these obligations applied to lawyers irrespective of where they expressed their opinions, including television and other public platforms.
She disclosed that a formal petition, accompanied by relevant broadcast materials, had been submitted to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee for examination.
The NBA president said Kalu would be allowed to present his response, while the committee would determine whether his conduct amounted to professional misconduct and whether any disciplinary action was warranted.
“Respect for due process does not, however, require the NBA to remain silent about language that falls below the standards we expect of our members,” she added.
She further stressed that the legal profession must hold the judiciary accountable when necessary while ensuring that lawyers themselves remain disciplined and responsible.
“Our credibility depends on our willingness to do both,” she said.
Badejo-Okusanya urged legal practitioners to communicate their objections to judicial decisions with firmness and professionalism, noting that their public conduct influences how society views the legal profession.