Flamboyant Nairobi lawyer Ahmednassir Abdullahi was yesterday permanently banned from appearing before the Supreme Court of Kenya.
While the ban may sound like a drastic measure taken against the lawyer, it only encompasses prosecuting cases before the Supreme Court and not any other affiliate or lower courts in the land.
It also does not mean that the law firm of Ahmednassir Abdullahi is deregistered.
A highly vocal and erudite protagonist on X (formerly Twitter), Ahmednassir Abdullahi has mixed his highly successful legal practice with a celebrity aura. Together with Professor Makau Mutua for several years, they sustained a lively political banter supporting opposing sides in the Kenyan political divide.
Shockingly Ahmednassir Abdullahi has turned strong critic of the Kenya Kwanza administration while in the run-up to the 2022 presidential election, he had been an ardent supporter of Dr. William Samoei Ruto.
Political pundits say that like all professionals Ahmednassir plays for Pay. Somehow he has not been considered for any favours in the current political dispensation.
Ahmednassir Abdullahi got his biggest career break when he was contracted to represent the late President Daniel Toroitich Moi’s commercial litigation interests. He tried to latch on to State House contracts during the Kibaki-Raila government of Nusu-mkate but was systematically edged out.
Uhuru Kenyatta had no time for the extremely wealthy lawyer and it was during his era that investigative organs would cast aspersions on the Grand Mullah (as Ahmednassir is known in certain circles) over engagement in piracy activities, terrorism and the unrest in Northeastern Kenya.
Ahmednassir Abdullahi owns the only original Bugatti in Kenya besides owning extensive investments and properties across the country. His Nairobi residence is three homes away from the official residence of the Kenyan Deputy President in the most leafy area of Karen, Nairobi County.
The Supreme Court Order issued on Thursday was signed by the Registrar of the Supreme Court L. Wachira with consent of the full bench of the apex court.
The judges said the ban also applies to associates in his law firm.
“Given the foregoing, 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 holding brief for you, or acting under your instructions. Much as this decision is bound to affect those who may have instructed you to represent them before the Court, it is untenable that you would seek justice in the very institution and before the very Judges, whose reputation and integrity you never tire of assaulting,” the Supreme Court Registrar wrote in the order to Senior Counsel Ahmednassir Abdullahi.
So, is it true that Ahmednassir has been carrying a campaign for several years against the integrity of the Supreme Court, as an institution or on its individual members? Yes, he has done so and often provided valid evidence that there is, indeed, corruption in the highest court in the land.
Who is mandated to examine the evidence provided by Ahmednassir Abdullahi against individual members of the court? The Supreme Court itself; and it has now vacated that responsibility by peremptorily abdicating.
Ever since the days when he was President of the Law Society of Kenya Ahmednassir’s legal merits have been brought to question. Was he the golden boy who rose to prominence because of political connections and not his acumen in the courtroom?
Our sources reveal that numerous cases undertaken by Ahmednassir are never executed in open court. He has a way of seeing the judge or magistrate in their chambers, and when he calls the judiciary corrupt, he knows exactly what he is talking about.
Our source who is, herself a senior member of the Judiciary, now says that Ahmednassir can appeal the decision of the Supreme Court in the East African Court, although she adds that is unlikely.
“Ahmednassir is extremely wealthy,” she says, adding “He doesn’t have to practice law to eat.”
The Grand Mullah roundly criticized the Kenya Kwanza administration. As a professional player, with the bench arraigned against him, perhaps it’s time to reassess his options.
He may tone down or leave altogether criticism of the Supreme Court of Kenya, as an institution, or of its members. Or he simply may sit out the decision and stare down the judges.
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