A Federal High Court Abuja on Friday ordered a lawyer, Orji Nwafor-Orizu, to produce a certificate of mental fitness confirming he is fit to appear in court.
Nwafor-Orizu has previously said he represents Osita Izunaso, the third defendant in the ongoing certificate of return suit filed by Imo Governor, Rochas Okorocha.
Justice Okon Abang made the order following what he described as Nwafor-Orizu displaying conduct not befitting of a senior counsel.
“On account of Nwafor-Orizu’s conduct, not being counsel on record, and displaying such conduct not worthy of a senior counsel, he shall not be allowed to appear as a counsel in this matter, or any other court, unless and until he furnishes the court with a medical report from a government psychiatric hospital certifying him to be mentally fit.”
The judge said he felt unsafe because he was not sure of the mental state of the lawyer, adding that no sane lawyer would act in the manner he did since he had not announced himself on record and yet was insisting to be heard.
He asked the security personnel to be ready to remove him from the court should he display such conduct again, and where he resisted, he should be arrested.
The Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha is in court asking for an order, compelling INEC to issue him a certificate of return as the senator-elect for Imo West Senatorial District.