A group of lawyers has asked the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to withdraw the invitation of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers state, as speakers for its annual conference.

This comes a few days after the NBA withdrew its invitation to Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna, as a speaker at the conference following an outcry by some lawyers who said the governor stands against what the profession represents.

The lawyers, under the umbrella of the CoNdigbo Lawyers With Conscience Forum(NLWCF), said both Obasanjo and Wike have acted against the rule of law.

In a statement on Saturday, Chinedu Nwachukwu, NLWCF chairman, and Onyebuchi Ahamefula, the secretary, accused Obasanjo of masterminding the Odi massacre of 1999 and that of Zaki Biam.

Governor Nyesom Wike who is a member of the NBA had on several occasions violated the rule of law. It is obvious that the insecurity, killings, kidnapping in Rivers state is even worse than the Ethno Religious crisis in Kaduna state.

To keep the revord straight, the Ethno Religious crisis in southern kaduna has been in existence since 1992 under the military regime.

“We are however baffled that the list of speakers at the conference still retains the names of Olusegun Obasanjo, retired general and former president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as well as that of Mr Nyesom Wike, the governor of Rivers State,” the group said.

“We are persuaded that these men by their antecedents vis-a-vis the respect for and promotion for the rule of law and due process are not fit for an invitation as speakers in a function such as the conference of Nigerian Bar Association, which mantra remains promoting the rule of law.

Obasanjo is known in Nigeria’s most recent history to have launched some of the most brutal assaults on the concept of rule of law. Kindly recall that it was Obasanjo, sworn to uphold the constitution of the land, who refused to obey the supreme court order for the release of the N21 billion Lagos state local government funds illegally and oppressively withheld by his administration.

“Despite the popular outcry that the supreme court is obeyed, President Obasanjo arrogantly declined obedience. He remained adamant all through his administration and it was President Yaradua who later complied with the judgement.”

The lawyers also accused Wike of destroying properties during the COVID-19 lockdown in his state despite a court order against his action.

“He is the same governor who ordered the demolition without a court order of two hotels in Rivers state recently. The Rivers states task force under the control of Governor Wike is an agency notorious for violation of human rights of citizens in carrying out their tasks,” the lawyers stated.

We therefore call on the NBA to as a matter of urgency withdraw the invitation to Obasanjo and Gov Wike to protect the image of the NBA as so many Nigerian lawyers now see the NBA as a willing political tool to witch hunt their perceived enemies amidst their ambitions for 2023.

Onyebuchi Ahamefula
Secretary
NLWCF

Igbo kwenu

Everybody cashing out from Hell Rufai... Now he turns to Ndigbo for help on his propaganda

The sweetest business in town is registering a political support group or religious support group at the corporate affairs commission, with one National title, ethnic or religious tittle


Just mail the contact of as many Politician's aide as you know and watch cash start raining when they need support... MURIC man is surely a millionaire as we speak



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What is good for the goose is also good for the gander




I support them on this

Wonderful

These are correct Igbo, not the clowns parading themselves on social media.

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JAMO84:
These are correct Igbo, not the clowns parading themselves on social media.

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