Koome blasts Havi, Ahmednassir over comments on BBI case
By Bernice.Mbugua, March 31, 2022Chief Justice Martha Koome reproached lawyers Ahmednassir Abdullahi, Nelson Havi and Esther Ang’awa over their comments regarding the BBI appeal proceedings at the Supreme Court.
Koome said the lawyers’ comments on social media were meant to influence, intimidate, or scandalise the court before issuing the BBI judgment, saying unless the practice is checked, it will erode the confidence and dignity of the courts.
“It would amount to unprofessional conduct, especially by Counsel appearing in this matter, and even Counsel who are not in this matter, but know very well that they cannot comment on a matter that is pending judgment,” she said yesterday while issuing the BBI verdict.
The Chief Justice said it is a well-established practice that Counsel and parties should refrain from directly or indirectly trying to improperly influence the court to rule in one way or the other.
She said the trio wrote tweets on the case on February 15 and 19.
“For Counsel to appear before the apex court, then proceed to add unnecessary diatribe, insults, and speculations on a pending judgment amounts to unethical conduct,” she said. The CJ blasted the lawyers, claiming the use of social media to disparage the courts with the intention of lowering the dignity and authority of the court or influencing the outcome of the case pending before the court, is a trespass and amounts to professional misconduct.
While Ahmednassir was not appearing for anybody in the matter, Koome said he took the lead role in disparaging the court by posting on Twitter even as late as Wednesday, March 30.