The Milimani High Court in Nairobi has rejected an attempt by Supreme Court judges to halt proceedings in a case challenging the ban imposed on Senior Counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi. Justice Chacha Mwita dismissed the application, affirming the court’s authority to hear the case contesting the Supreme Court’s decision to ban Ahmednasir and his associates.
The ban on Lawyer Ahmednasir from appearing before the Supreme Court was announced on January 18, 2024. In their statement, the Supreme Court judges cited Ahmednasir’s continuous and blatant criticism, which they claimed had “scandalized and ridiculed” the court, leading to their decision.
According to the court’s statement, effective immediately from the date of the communication, Ahmednasir and anyone representing him were barred from presenting cases before the Supreme Court. Ahmednasir promptly responded to the ban, describing it as a “badge of honor” in defiance of the court’s directive.
The Supreme Court acknowledged that its decision would impact litigants who had engaged Ahmednasir’s legal services for cases before the court. The statement emphasized that despite previous warnings to Ahmednasir to exercise caution in his public remarks about the court and its judges, he persisted in his criticisms without regard for their reputations.
The court accused Ahmednasir of conducting a sustained campaign across broadcast, print, and social media platforms, alleging corruption, incompetence, and bribery among the judges. This, the court stated, disregarded the integrity and dedication of the judges who serve in accordance with their sworn duties.
The Supreme Court clarified that it had chosen to impose the ban after exercising restraint in previous warnings to Ahmednasir, which he had ignored.