Gadzama SAN Case: How Justice Egwuatu Redefined Fair Hearing in Landmark Ruling
Gadzama SAN Case: How Justice Egwuatu Redefined Fair Hearing in Landmark Ruling What happens when a lawyer is punished but has no effective avenue to appeal? Justice Egwuatu’s ruling in the Gadzama SAN case has opened a new chapter in Nigeria’s fair-hearing jurisprudence. The case of Joe-Kyari Gadzama, SAN v. Body of Benchers & Ors. has raised a significant constitutional question: does fair hearing mean only the opportunity to defend oneself at first instance, or does it also require a practical and effective avenue to challenge an adverse decision? Before the recent decision of the Federal High Court, Abuja, presided…