₦airaland Forum

RAMINBA REPLIES STEVE ABAR ON OGUNLANA 'S TRIAL AND PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRATION

The Radical Agenda Movement in the Nigerian Bar Association (RAMINBA) has replied to a post made by Steve Abar, former 2nd and 1st Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association on the ongoing trial of the presidential aspirant running on its platform, Mr. Ogunlana Adesina Ademola by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. I

In a statement issued by Ayo Ademiluyi, the Secretary of the Radical Agenda Movement in the Nigerian Bar Association, the organisation would ordinarily restrain from making commentary on the ongoing trial based on the sub judice principle, but it has found it important based on the issues raised in the said Steve Abar's post to comment on the political implicationss thereof as the NBA presidential race heats up.

On 12th day of February, 2020, Mr. Adesina Ogunlana took to his popular Facebook wall , where he posted thus:

"OUR FRIENDS IN POLITICS
In the course of my trajectory towards the Presidency of the Nigerian Bar Association , one of the more amusing mounds of mud thrown at me is the issue of my EFCC case .Many of the mud throwers throw their mud as if they were the proverbial 'carpenters' of Nigerian legal folk lore .

As far as these legal juggernauts are concerned , going by their stance, arraignment and trial are tantamount to CONVICTION. Thus as far as these brilliant legal minds are concerned , I am not a fit and proper person to aspire to any position in the NBA, at least for now one of our denouncers , Steve Abar, Esq., former 2nd and 1st Vice NBA President, who rightly claimed that he had stood chest to chest with the Tigers in struggles afore, (though did not mention any one instance when he was ever a 'struggle mate' with his Ikeja based preferred candidate ) asserted in a response to a post that ' his(Ogunlana)'s EFCC case will weigh him down ' .

The question is how would arraignment and trial have such effect on any unprejudiced truly trained and astute minds schooled in the elevated pedagogies of the presumption of innocence doctrines . Shouldn't even the benefit of the doubt be made to weigh more in favour of the accused in the minds of the scruplously fair minded legal mind particularly where such a mind is far off from the vortex of political conflict and clash of interests leading to judicial trial . You would have thought that a quality fellow trencher would not quickly toss away belief for unbelief , search diligently for the truth of accusations before arriving at a negative conclusion .

Another well known non fancier is also, interestingly, named STEVE ;Steve Uchenna Nwankwo Esq who rejoices in the cadescence of a luminous sobriquet of STEVE SUN . That worthy had noted fillipantly somewhere recently whilst trying to englitter the plumage of his preferred candidate that ' we dont even know how his EFCC case would end ' To us this is nothing but a clever by half , sly dammnation of our aspiration which cannot slow us down . .

Attacks, fair and unfair are common fare in politics , fortunately we here have a stomach of iron that not only digests poisoned meals and rubbish easily without side effects but get nourished spectacularly thereby . Alleged FRIENDS who even without balanced investigations, private engagements and interactions with a mind to finding out the truth as much as possible even with all opportunities of access but find it all too easy to join one's HATERS to nail one on the cross of unproved accusations, are FRIENDS indeed .

May God continue to bless such wonderful friends and reward them with exciting propects of being around in the days of joyous vindication .Such need not roil in mortification when doxologies are rendered unto the Almighty for his great Deliverance , for they shall surely be invited to the theatre of Rejoice !

NB .....this piece was written to mark this day, 12th February 2020 , exactly a year now that the EFCC came to arrest me in my chambers . When this happened local and in house traducers thought it was finished with us and boasted and assured willing ears that I shall end up in jail within months . Their main angst against me is my guts and confidence which they find so galling . We sullied the bullies by refusing to bend like robots to their wishes and tingodism at the NBA IKEJA BAR . They are still galled up because despite their arrows , bullets, blows , yours sincerely , instead of wilting and cringing has become ever so resurgent and reflugent . To whom do we ascribe all this to ? God, God , God . The fish in the picture (attached to the post) was a victim of celebration in the afternoon .I carried its still substantial remains off the battle field , to be seen off in chambers with a chilled lager You understand now ? Bless you my friends and my FRIENDS"

Mr. Steve Abar responded on the thread thus:

"Ademola Ogunlana Adesina , you may find your criminal trial amusing, but regrettably, I do not share your sentiment as I find nothing amusing in a President of the NBA being subjected to the dock on ALLEGATIONS of corruption especially when the trial precedes the aspiration and or eventual assumption of the office. My opinion with the greatest respect, is without prejudice to the presumption of your innocence or even the eventual outcome of the trial you are facing. I must also confess that in holding this view, I do not advert my mind to the quality of the facts alleged in the criminal charge against you and whether they will succeed or otherwise. I am simply deeply worried about the negative public perception of the Association nay the entire legal profession which will be engendered by the prospect of having a second consecutive President of the NBA also being docked, as if the Association is suffering from a dearth of options from which to pick its leadership. This view of your situation which I hold is consistent with the tenacious position I held against Paul Usoro's aspiration during his quest for the presidency of the NBA even though at the material time, the issue of his arraignment was still speculative. Should you be in doubt, you may check my posts both on my wall and on other relevant threads at the material time. I am therefore not in a hurry to do a volte-face simply because this time around you are the person involved and also notwithstanding your irrefutable radical credentials.

My compatriot (I still consider you one), I can bear eloquent testimony to the many instances you and others of the Tiger Branch demonstrated grit and commitment to the cause of the NBA and lawyers. Nevertheless, we are here dealing with a situation where I believe that you are offering yourself for SERVICE to the Bar and NOT TO BE SERVED. If that be the case as I hope it is, the honourable thing for you particularly (given your hitherto known selfless disposition) to do in the overriding general interest and image of the NBA is to temporarily put aside your personal ambition, confront the trial against you and allow its outcome to vindicate you. Thereafter, should the outcome be favourable, you could in the future offer yourself for service again whilst standing on a higher moral pedestal. This is what obtains in civilised climes where the principle of presumption of innocence also enures in favour of accused persons who are in some instances even incumbents. I believe, that you my honourable friend will demonstrate this rare quality that is grossly deficient in our society today by pointing the way to go if we must attain the model future we genuinely desire both for our dear NBA and our Nation Nigeria, not because I PREJUDGE your trial, but because I consider it a greater sacrifice for the general good and image of the NBA.

My friend, an integral attribute of leadership is the the ability to elevate and place the general good over and above personal interest or desire. I am calling on you today to carefully reconsider your decision to run at this inopportune time, particularly so since any of your other gentlemen co - aspirants have made the decision easier for you given their widely acknowledged capabilities.

Finally, I had craved an opportunity for us to have this discourse privately and therefore sincerely regret my slip in bringing it up in response to somebody else's query on another thread which subsequently caught your attention and now elicited your elaborate post. Permit me to state that I do not by any stretch of imagination consider you unfit or not proper to contest for the presidency of the NBA by reason of your on going trial. I am also not your hater. My position is the product of my long held and publicly expressed belief which has found fulfilment in the manifestation of a seemingly gagged NBA under Paul Usoro. I wish you could see it as that and nothing more.

Thank you and kindly ignore the incomplete response I earlier inadvertently posted here and substitute it with this one"

The questions for Mr. Steve Abar are numerous but some are:

1. On what grounds did Mr. Steve Abar advise Mr. Paul Usoro SAN not to run, when he had no criminal matter agaisnt him , prior to his electoral victory at the 2018 polls?

2. Why is he recommending to Mr. Ogunlana to shelve his presidential ambition because of his ongoing trial, his undisclosed grounds of advice with which he advised Mr. Paul Usoro SAN, when he had no criminal matter ?

3. What is the basis of equality of capabilities ascribed to all the candidates to warrant Mr. Ogunlana to withdraw from the NBA presidential race?

It is clear as noonday that Mr. Steve Abar' s response is blurry and an attempt to drive emotions up against the presidential aspiration of Mr. Ogunlana. While on one hand , deferring to the doctrine of presumption of innocence , Mr. Abar wants Mr. Ogunlana to halt his presidential aspiration due to his ongoing trial.

Mr. Abar' s school of thought is that elective offices such as the Office of the President of the Nigerian Bar Association is a deified office that should not be aspired to by individuals , who are facing any form of trial, inspite of the presumption of innocence against them.

Mr. Abar's conclusion that the ongoing trial of Mr. Paul Usoro SAN led to the current gagged NBA leadership is not only presumptuous but amounts to begging the question. If we may ask, what background does Mr. Paul Usoro SAN, the current NBA President have that now got "gagged" when he entered office! The reality is that , with respect to Mr. Paul Usoro SAN, he is simply not an activist! Even at that, the pinnacle of Mr. Paul Usoro SAN' s anti- government action was the declaration of a national boycott, where were persons such as Mr. Steve Abar at that time?

Now to Mr. Steve Abar's assertion that all the four presidential have "equal capabilities " , let us examine the subject matter critically. Mr. Steve Abar's reference of standing shoulders to shoulders with Ikeja Branch, the Tiger Bar, during their innumerous struggles, does this include the involvement of Mr. Dele Adesina SAN? It is on record that the same Dele Adesina SAN , as Chairman of Ikeja Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (1998-2000) diswoned his members who were protesting the sale of the Nigerian Law School?

Dr. Babatunde Ajibade SAN and Mr. Olumide Akpata , both transactional lawyers has never been known for activism and critical social interventions. They can't even pretend to be so! Where then is the equality of capacities among the four?

These are men who have used their skills to make personal fortunes for themselves and are now eyeing top positions in the Nigerian Bar Association in order to project their image for higher aspirations.

The four presidential aspirants are all Lagos-based lawyers, of both Ikeja and Lagos Branches , the two largest Branches of the Nigerian Bar Association. In 2018, when the then Governor Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos State sought to impose an horrendous Lagos State Land Use Charge of 500 percent increment, the reaction of the four aspirants were not the same. While the other three sat on the fence, Ogunlana leading the NBA IKeja , without the support of Mr. Dele Adesina SAN, successfully resisted the imposition of the taxes.

Equally, when the immediate past Chief Judge of Lagos State, Honourable Justice Opeyemi Oke came up with the High Court of Lagos State (Civil Procedure) Rules 2018 with its horrendous filing fees and punitive costs, what is the attitude or reaction of these aspirants to that extortionate scheme of the Chief Judge? While three kept quiet, one spoke against it publicly, carried out demonstratrations itagainst it via the Citizens' Rally wgainst Oppression and eventually sought judicial intervention on it? Who is that? Ogunlana Adesina Ademola. Again, what basis is the equality of capabilities?

The reality is that with the grand onslaughg on democratic rights jnder the current regime, the leadership that is required is a fighting leadership. Mr. Steve Abar's wish of not having a " gagged" leadership can only be fully realised if Mr. Ogunlana is entrusted with the prime leadership of the Bar.

Why is guy just getting paranoid, i.t. is not forever, besides if girl goes for national service, will he follow her.
The most impoortant thing is trust and since the lady has been truthful enough to tell him where she will be
staying, he just have faith her or high B.P will not be far from him.

Dry port is more than just opened land for storing containers.
There must be facilities and infrastructure for loading, clearing and examining the containers.
There must be good road network, rail tracks, warehouses, machineries e.t.c
I am not seeing any of this in picture.
All I see here is propaganda of dry port.

ConcNiggress56:
buhari is on his sickbed on weekends..

emulate your presi.

He's on the sick bed every day weekend inclusive.

Queentito:
You see that there's rice at home is the surest, because this current naija if you leave your room go lock gate come back 5k don disappear from your purse, lol

I'll rather stay at home, prepare better ikokore and watch series on my camon C9

That's a proper ijebu babe.
Nice one about the ikokore.

ivolt:
Think with your brain not your heart, the pastor is an employee of Lagos state government
and therefore can be sacked if he misbehaves.
Your attempt to blackmail the Lagos state government is dead on arrival.

Yes he can be sacked but not evicted under 24 hours.
It is never done anywhere as regards employer employee relationship for a 24 hours eviction notice. Even the court can never issue such.

Why is difficult for you to post your the link to your blog.
You seem more interested in getting people for your training than actually showing us what type of blog u are running.

intruxive:
the girls kidnapped in chibok and maidugury is not limited to only those girls from the school. The report said kidnapped from chibok "community"
And for your information chibok is a predominantly Christian community making it a target for the Islamic terrorists
All this ignorants from that side seff, u guys should try and know the history of nigeria na, b4 u go develop malaysia

My friend please try another narrative.
We all know that boko haram kidnapped hundreds of both boys and girls in not only Borno but also Adamawa and Yobe. However not all the local governments were affected and there was no report of any missing or kidnapped chibook girls let alone a JSS 1 or 12 year olds in the Chibook community before the alleged abduction of over two hundred chibook girls.
So the question is this when was this one abducted?
Was she also in the boarding house during the abduction?
How did it only her manage to escape from boko hara?
Did the Fulani also guide her because there's no way she would get her bearings right?
Where from the Boko Haram did she escape from since they are no more in sambisa forest?

Lily4star:
We should win that, no excuses whatsoever

Don't get your hopes up.
Man Utd don dey turn to arsenal.
Imagine dem no fit commit 4 6th
Position since. The special one no
special for man utd at all.

ZarZar:
I just took the test, it's interesting.

I got "very low" (23rd percentile) for Extraversion
"Extremely low" (6ft percentile) for Agreeableness. In other words I'm an A-hole
"Very high" for Conscientiousness
"Average" for Neuroticism
"Low" for Openness

It's not very far off TBH, but I disagree with some things ofcourse . There's that 6% showing its ass again. LOL!

That's good. Well the test is like a mirror.
What see is what you are or in this case what you fill is
what you are. Definitely there's no 100% accuracy test but as we say in
research there's 5% confidence level of the result.
It's human to agree with views similar with ours and disagree with contrary ones.
This is not to said your opinions are not correct but been non far from the TBH
shows a level reliability.
Simple way to know is ask someone to rate on agreeable.
N.B. Agreeable people tend to be trusting, empathetic, cooperative, caring, sensitive, kind, forgiving, generous, and good-natured.
So do you fit the above description?
posts on naiaraland

ZarZar:
LMAO. OK, I think she understands

Oh OK, cool. You mentioned that your introversion has increased according to the test. Is there any proof of that in real life according to your own observation? Like, have you become more reserved/reclusive? If yes, what do you believe is the reason for your isolation?

The introvert and extrovert test is too generalized and stereotype.
I advise to take the BFI test, it rates personality to
five types based on just fifty questions.
It will give a better view on your personality.

Is it just me cause what am seeing is six land rovers.
Don't know how 82 girls will be seated in them.
That's like 13 girls seated in each truck.
Don't know the capacity of the helicopter but I
Doubt if one helicopter can carry 82 people at once not
Considering other officials and security agencies.
Someone should please clarify.

dabossman:
Like I said, I'm not knocking your premise. Yes Bayo may have been removed while the President was ill, and it may be because of many reasons we don't know about. Once they are in private, they will brief the President about why he is no longer there.

In truth, Buhari didn't bring Bayo into his team personally. His election campaign team did. Yes, Buhari may have taken a liking to the young man, hence the reason he asked after him, but his "removal" doesn't necessarily mean he is not in charge.

I would have been more alarmed if the President had asked "where is Babachir Lawal?"

He can't for lawal cause is Christian
And has no business been in the mosque
Or have you ever seen lawal greet buhari
Around the mosque on Fridays or been among
His entourage.
The question remains where is bayo?

Wishing u happy birthday
May u enjoy peace, joy, happiness,
Love, true friendship, long life, good health,
Happy marriage, joy of motherhood and prosperity.
May all heart desires come to fruition.
Happy birthday areola.

refiner:
Must u be nude to pass a message across?...nawa oo


This world is turning into something else...

Na so my sister.
This is quite far from inspiring.
She needs urgent medical treatment to remove
The extra layers​ of fat.
At least all those covering her waist line.
Maybe then she can be start been an inspiration.

Nawa for Benin o
Benin woman carry the man away
Benin man buy the house come
Take police throwaway the man pickin
For jail and carry thug comot their property
For street.
Fear Benin connection mtn sef no reach them.
Baffy I hail una do

Lilyqueeny:
thanks

You welcome.
Have a blessed night rest.
Sweet dreams and sleep tite princess.

Lilyqueeny:
Lilyqueeny

U look very lovely and natural just
the Iike a true beauty queen.
You have my 100% score.
Kwase1

maclatunji:
Yes, Lagos and Ondo have a Maritime boundary.

There is no way it wouldn't pass through Ogun state despite the maritime boundary.
There's no direct boundary with Lagos it must still pass the coastal side of ijebu land.

While not holding brief for kemi is libel now a criminal matter that the police must prosecute despite the numerous criminal cases piling up with both the police and DPP. What section in the Constitution, police act and amended administration of criminal act list libel for as criminal act and gives it stern bail terms. What is criminal about libel that it warrants trial by a federal high court not even state. This is just an abuse of Court process otherwise why was she charged to a magistrate court when they still intention of trying her in a high court.
Come to think of it Nigeria police that Will ask for mobilisation for just routine complaints will now mobilise all the way from PH to Ibadan for just simple libel case. Some one at top is really pulling strings.
But whether they like it or not she will still be given bail
Only they achieved is ridiculing and punishing her. That am sure has always been intention.
Forget the some screen trial it will not lead anywhere.
They can't convict on these charges.

Sounds reasonable. Can you stage it anywhere in the country with minor differential in the cost. Mostly likely south west.

Still waiting for 3,4 and 5

What's wrong with these mods
Yesterday it was reported that osibanjo was
given the title. Today they're saying it he collected
the title by proxy for PMB. Besides when did
Chieftaincy title become worthless to be received
by proxy. Every leader military or civilian is bestowed
Title in person. This news is not correct. I see that
BMC is at work.

seguno2:
Age applies for civil service retirement.
Does it apply for the parastatals of Nigerian Railways and Nigerian Ports Authority?
I hope that you are capable of discussing that logically.

Parastatals are guided by the public service rule too.

I find the part that says the biggest ship to land in Africa landed in Nigeria.
Last time i checked, our draught is not that deep for large tonnage vessels
and the ongoing badagry seaport is supposed to be the deepest port in Sub-saharan
Africa.

He probably entered as a cadet graduate as ASP, so he has not been promoted yet.
I'm sure he will soon be promoted with his new job. Mostly likely he has spent about 3 years or more
on his job so he should be due for promotion soon.

I think the president is praying as a pastor after all the incident occurred in the church
so no big deal kneeing for someone praying for you.
However, it will be a different scenario if this occurred in the president's office.

able20:
Tanx. Now i hope some doubting Thomas go understand

Well the facts are there for them to make their decisions
except those who are too blinded by their cult belief that
their leaders are above mistake.

hardbody:
Elementary logical reasoning

The IGP is a career officer in the Police Force

Is the CG a career Customs officer?

Let us even assume he is (which he is not), is it the uniform that will speak to them

I believe in substance over procedure

Then he should not bear the title of CGC, he can be appointed as sole administrator or director of customs service
not bearing the title of CGC.
So he can enter the official car of CGC, fly the flag of customs on his car, carry the customized number plate of CG 01
on the car, enjoy the luxurious office of CG, reside in the official house of CG, have customs security details, enjoy salaries
and allowances of CG but cannot wear ordinary uniform of CG.
Yeye dey smell.

Abeg which one be safe house safe again.
Abi dis guys don too watch 24 series.
If the house is a safe house, how come the address is known?

sagod:
It is a show of crass arrogance for the man to insist not wearing Customs' uniform. Again, this to me, is a show of lack of discipline which is not expected of a public officer.
To think that he asked if he was appointed to wear uniform makes one wonder if he was engaged in the military to wear uniform when he was in the military? And asking if it is the uniform that does the work or the man himself, is like suggesting that staff and members of the Customs service should not also wear uniforms since it is not the uniforms that do the work but the men themselves. May be our school children should not wear uniforms to schools since uniforms themselves do not study/learn but the students.

You just said it all.

Luvdk:
Buhari pls giv up the ghost n free ur wicked soul

Wow that's quite harsh but the way he's going about it the jubilation that will follow his eventual demise will supersede that of Abacha if he doesn't do the needful.
Just pray he will consider his health and the nation instead of his and the cabal selfish ambition.