By Inibehe Effiong

As a member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), I have been silent before now on the avoidable and needless controversy that has characterized the self-redeeming decision of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the NBA to disinvite the Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, as one of the speakers at the 2020 virtual Annual General Conference of the NBA because emotions have been elevated above reason.

For the sake of history, I will summarize my position publicly because there is no fence for anyone to sit on this issue.

Those who contemplated and recommended Mallam El-Rufai as a speaker at the 2020 NBA Conference despite his noxious human rights record, open contempt for the rule of law and inflammatory identity politics should apologize to Nigerian lawyers and the entire country for the attendant embarrassment, polarization and controversies that have greeted the NEC decision.

The NBA has a fundamental problem; a problem of purpose.

The NBA’s motto is “defending the rule of law”. Nobody to my knowledge has disputed the documented cases of disregard to court orders by Governor El-Rufai. Among the victims of his tyranny and intolerance are members of the NBA from Kaduna State.

Those arguing that the Kaduna governor should have been given a “fair hearing” are playing to the gallery. The right to fair hearing under Section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) only avails persons whose civil rights and obligations are to be determined by a court or tribunal established by law or by administrative bodies. El-Rufai does not have a legally protected right to speak at the NBA conference. It is only a privilege which can be given or withdrawn by the NBA without a reason. Therefore, the issue of fair hearing does not arise.

All that the NBA owed him was the courtesy to notify him of the NEC decision which was done through the representation made to the Director General of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum by the NBA President, Paul Usoro SAN. The NBA President did not have to apologize to the Kaduna governor. Mr. Usoro’s apology was ostensibly actuated by his personal relationship with El-Rufai which he publicly alluded to and had nothing to do with the opinion of most lawyers in Nigeria on the matter. Majority of Nigerian lawyers do not owe El-Rufai an apology.

The NBA was not obligated to hear from the Kaduna governor before reaching a decision on the massive protests by her members against the platform wrongly offered to him as one of the speakers. It is the domestic affairs of the NBA to determine who should speak at its conference which does not warrant the insolent, vexatious and intrusive statements by extremist religious bodies and individuals who have sought to capitalize on the development in a sinister effort to foster their misplaced divisive and sectarian agenda.

READ MORE: https://thebelltimesng.com/2020/08/29/el-rufai-vs-nba-the-unspoken-truth-about-the-annual-conference-of-nigerian-lawyers/

Your head correct ...!
How can a Commander of Boko Haram be given a microphone to speak fairness and citizenship to his victims?

Well spoken.

Make una ignore the guy with him new NBA (Northern Nigerian Bar Association). At least, BH go dey get legal aid and free representation to defend them for court.

Na dem go tire.

Lol thank you. They keep shouting fair hearing as though El rufai has a fundamental right to be invited to speak.
Lalasticlala

The first time since buhari took over that the NBA did something right to contribute to the improvement in the country just like they were in the forefront during the military era
Their Decision to disunited El rufai has paid off handsomely. There is now an improved effort to solve the Southern Kaduna and other security issues in Kaduna
Secondly El rufai has seen him self in the real sense of how he is viewed by the public unlike what he thinks he is from the perception of brown envelope journalists and commentators,including political hangar ons
There will be remarkable improvement in the country if the labour unions and the civil societies can equally grow balls and put the country first before pecuniary gains

ZKOSOSO:
Your head correct ...!
How can a Commander of Boko Haram be given a microphone to speak fairness and citizenship to his victims?

Thank you! To speak on the rule of law. What an irony?

And the "body bags" governor at that! That statement was a threat to murder perceived/real opponents of his ambition.

This thing don do nau. Abi u na never draw the matter reach ni.



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