The Supreme Court on Thursday, January 18, banned outspoken lawyer Ahmednassir Abdullahi from appearing before it.
The seven-judge bench of the Supreme Court said in a statement that it was untenable for the lawyer to appear before the very judges he has constantly accused of being corrupt.
“… 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,” Letizia Muthoni Wachira, the Registrar of the Supreme Court noted in a statement.
However, the Senior Counsel of Friday, January 19, announced plans to file the petition at the East Africa Court of Justice challenging the Supreme Court decision barring him from appearing before it.
The Grand Muller said it was wrong for the Apex Court to deny him an audience to express his issues with the judges.
“I have instructed my lawyers to file a petition in the East African Court of Justice at Arusha to seek legal redress against Koome. I will not waste time going to Koome’s courts,” Ahmednasir noted.
The lawyer insisted that his ban was contrary to the Kenyan Constitution stating that he was the first in the country’s history to be denied audience by the Supreme Court.
In its two-page letter, the court accuses Ahmednassir of conducting a campaign on print, electronic, and social media while scandalizing the court.
“Over the years, you have relentlessly and unabashedly conducted a campaign in the broadcast, print, and social media aimed at scandalizing, ridiculing, and out-rightly denigrating this Court,” the letter sent to him reads in part.
“Through social media posts, media interviews, and write-ups, you have accused the Court either in its constitutive persona, or individual membership, of acts of corruption, incompetence, and outright bribery.”
