Senior Counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi has sued all the seven Supreme Court judges over an order barring him from appearing before the court.
The law firm owned by Ahmednasir filed a petition challenging the order issued by Chief Justice Martha Koome banning the lawyer and his associates from making submissions at the Supreme Court in reaction to his criticism.
The senior lawyer alongside his 10 associates have individually sued the seven judges.
The associates include Asli Osman, Peter Muchoki, Irene Jelagat, Esther Amboko, Cohen Amanya, Khadijah Said, Elizabeth Wangui, Bernard Ongeri, Tony Kiprotich and Mohammed Billow.
In the petition filed before High Court judge Lawrence Mugambi, the petitioners also sued Registrar of the Supreme Court Letizia Wachira, the Supreme Court and Attorney General.
Opposing the Ban-Grounds
The associate’s lawyer Isaa Mansur argued that the court’s decision was an administrative and not a result of a judicial process.
“The ban which is for an unspecified period of time is a draconian step against the petitioners and all advocates presently and in future, working for the first petitioner firm from representing any client at the Supreme Court,” he is quoted by a local newspaper.
Mansur explained that the apex court did not give his client the opportunity to be heard before he was banned.
According to him, no disciplinary proceedings have been issued against the lawyer in respect to the matters complained in the letter.
He stated that the judges should sue the lawyer if they feel aggrieved by his comments.
Besides, Mansur said Ahmednasir’s firm and partners were not part of the standoff between the lawyer and the Supreme Court and should not be punished without being told the sins they committed.
“While it is evident that the actions taken by the first to the seventh respondents is targeted at Mr. Ahmednassir Abdullahi, it is pertinently clear that the petitioners stand to suffer in the dispute,” said Mansur.
Also Read: Ahmednasir Defends CJ Koome Amidst Row with Supreme Court
Supreme Court Bans Ahmednasir
The lawyer together with his firm’s associates were permanently barred from appearing before court on January 18, 2024.
In a statement, the apex court noted that the lawyer has “relentlessly scandalized and ridiculed” it.
“In view of the foregoing, it is the decision of this Court, that henceforth and from the date of this communication, you shall have no audience before the Court, either by yourself, through an employee of your law firm, or any other person holding brief for you,” read the statement in part.
Also Read: LSK Takes Stance on Ahmednasir Supreme Court Ban
Ahmednasir Reaction
Reacting after being slapped with the restriction, Ahmednasir immediately rebuffed the statement terming the ban “a badge of honor”.
“Isn’t it a badge of honor for the most corrupt court in Kenya to refuse me and my law firm an audience? “Posed Abdullahi.
There were mixed reactions among Kenyans online following the statement by the Supreme Court.
