Boko Haram: NBA doles out N1.5m to affected lawyers
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has issued cheques totaling N1.5 million to lawyers affected by the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East region.
Families of four deceased lawyers got N100,000 each while 16 lawyers displaced by the conflict were given N70,000 each.
Making the donation on Thursday, the President of the NBA, Okey Wali (SAN), called on members and well wishers to donate into the account of the North East Special Relief Funds Initiative, adding that a second list is being compiled.
Wali said the welfare of lawyers is one of the cardinal thrusts of his 10-point agenda, explaining that this informed his setting up of the NBA Welfare Trust Foundation on assumption of office.
While observing that the security of lives and property of citizens is the primary responsibility of government, Wali commended President Goodluck Jonathan and the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, on their commitment to end the insurgency.
Some of the Maiduguri-based beneficiaries include Musa Adamu, Musa Bukar, Malam Kwanane, Peter Bello and Adam Bashir.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, the secretary of the Maiduguri branch, Abdulwasiu Alfa, recounted how a lawyer who was handling a divorce brief involving a member of the Boko Haram sect, was shot dead along with an 18-month-old daughter.
Alfa lamented what he termed the crumble of law practice in the North East. He commended the NBA for the gesture saying it will ease the suffering of the affected families.