A lawyer involved in a high-profile case in Nigeria has admitted to including the names of his colleagues in a court document without their consent. Mubarak Abubakar, counsel to Abdullahi Rogo, the Director General of Protocol to Governor Abba Kabir-Yusuf, attributed the error to a “copy and paste” mistake while filling out court processes.

The issue arose from a petition filed to prosecute the publisher of Daily Nigerian, Jaafar Jaafar, and his colleague, Umar Audu, over a report alleging massive looting of government funds by Mr. Rogo. Two lawyers, Ahmed Musa and Ridwan Yunusa, listed as counsel to the petitioner, distanced themselves from the petition, stating they were never consulted before their names were included.

Mr. Abubakar, who drafted the petition, admitted to professional misconduct, explaining that he often includes his friend and former coursemate, Ahmed Musa, in court processes, and sometimes uses a “copy and paste” method to reduce the stress of filing. He claimed to have apologized to the lawyers for the error and alleged that they were compelled to issue a disclaimer.

The incident highlights the importance of diligence and attention to detail in legal proceedings. The inclusion of unsuspecting lawyers in the petition has raised questions about the integrity of the case and the conduct of the legal professionals involved. The matter is significant, as it involves high-ranking government officials and allegations of corruption.

The development comes amid ongoing efforts to address corruption and ensure accountability in Nigeria’s public sector. The case has sparked interest in the media and among the public, with many calling for transparency and fairness in the handling of the matter. As the case unfolds, it remains to be seen how the incident will impact the outcome and the reputation of the legal professionals involved.