How storm over el-Rufai will impact lawyers at NBA conference
Thousands of lawyers have registered for the 60th edition of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference (AGC) despite the outrage that greeted the decision of the association to disinvite Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State over allegations of human rights violations.
But the organisers of the conference would be hoping that the controversy generated by the disinvitation of the governor would not, as the signs suggest, negatively affect the last major lawyers’ event before the swearing-in of the new executive to be led by Olumide Akpata Esq.
The international conference is usually a capacity building, networking and government accountability forum for lawyers. For this year, registered lawyers will at the opening session on August 26 be treated to a special plenary with topics such as: “Opening Plenary – “Through the years with the Nigerian Bar Association”- which presents the profile of former presidents of the association, and various opening addresses.
After the opening sessions, the afternoon session will feature the vice president and other speakers on the State of the Nation. Other parallel sessions such as Section on Law Practice’s (SLP) ‘Layoffs, Furloughs, and Redundancy as a Result of COVID-19’; Section on Business Law’s (SBL) ‘A Dialogue on Insolvency and Economic Recovery’; and Section on Public Interest and Development Law’s (SPIDEL) ‘Executive Order and Democratic Governance’; and the general training session.
On August 27, the topic of ‘Who is a Nigerian? A Debate on National Identity’ by the SLP; Young Lawyers’ Forum’s (YLF) ‘Arise and Shine’; SPIDEL’s ‘Security and Extra-Judicial Killings’; and ‘No means no’, a general topic.
August 28 will feature the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the NBA while August 29 will be the handover of the incumbent NBA President, Paul Usoro (SAN) to his successor, Olumide Akpata Esq.
But with the withdrawal of many branches and lawyers, the effectiveness of the programme on lawyers would be greatly affected, coupled with COVID-19 pandemic.
But Obioma Ezenwobodo Esq said the controversy is not likely to affect attendance at the conference because the events of the past few days have generated interest of members and the general public, adding that it is virtual and free.
“I believe, as a way of moving forward, the organisers of subsequent AGCs should thoroughly scrutinize intending guest speakers so as to prevent such incidents from reoccurring,” he said.
On his part, Hameed Ajibola Jimoh Esq called for unity of the NBA and the country, adding that “the controversy is most likely to have disinterest from some groups of members of the association.”
For his part, Tope Akinyode Esq, who said he will participate at the conference, added that the withdrawal of Governor elRufai will help him concentrate on providing security in his
the state.
Meanwhile, Lawyers from the South West have been urged to pull out of the NBA and form own regional body. APAPO Oodua Koya, (AOKOYA) Ahmed Akorede said on Saturday in a statement “There is no justification for Nigerian Bar Association, (NBA) in the life of average Yoruba and Itsekiri persons anymore”
The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the NBA had on Thursday resolved to disinvite Governor el-Rufai to the first-ever virtual conference holding between August 26 and 29 with the theme “Step Forward”. El-Rufai was to be on the panel session dealing with the topic, “Who is a Nigerian? A Debate on National Identity.”
Others also billed to speak at the session are Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State; former Anambra State governor and vice presidential candidate of the PDP in the 2019 election, Peter Obi; a cleric and chairman, African Advisory Council of the Royal Commonwealth Society Tunde Bakare; activist, former Minister of Education and former presidential candidate Oby Ezekwesili; and the immediate past ECOWAS commissioner for political affairs, peace and security, Salamatu Suleiman.
Others invited to speak at the event are the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo (SAN);
Governor Babajide SanwoOlu of Lagos State; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad; former President Olusegun Obasanjo; former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu; and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN).
Lawyers had on Tuesday begun a social media petition threatening a mass boycott of the conference over the inclusion of Governor el-Rufai. They had accused the governor of poor handling of the killings in Southern Kaduna, unlawful incarceration and disobedience to court orders.
The decision generated division among lawyers with various interests expressing different opinions on el-Rufai’s withdrawal. Some branches such as Kaduna Muslim lawyers, Bauchi, and Jigawa have threatened to boycott the conference citing lack of fair hearing for the governor.
But NBA NEC in a statement on Friday through the President, Paul Usoro (SAN), said the decision was to avoid the controversy over el-Rufai’s invitation, adding that he has since apologised to the governor over any embarrassment from the dis-invitation through the DG of the Nigerian Governor’s Forum.