* Benin lawyers threatens to expel Alegeh Members of the Benin branch of the Nigeria Bar Association have threatened to expel National President of the NBA, Austin Alegeh, over the removal of their chairman, Princess Patience Iyomon. A letter from the General Secretary of the NBA, Mazi Afam Osigwe, had directed Vice Chairman of the NBA Benin branch, Emmanuel Ojekhua to take over chairmanship and management of the branch including its bank accounts and properties. The letter dated February 20, 2016 said Iyomon was removed by the National Executive Committee of the NBA at its meeting in Jos, Plateau State. Angered by the contents of the letter sacking their chairman, some members of the Benin branch stormed the secretariat and saw that locks and keys to the secretariat were changed. They broke into the secretariat and held an enlarged congress of the NBA at the instance of Elders of the branch. Some lawyers at the congress who pleaded anonymity said the removal of Iyomon was because the NBA joined in a suit against the Land Use Charge. At the meeting presided over by Barr. Nosa Peter Osifo, the lawyers dissociated themselves from the Jos meeting and expressed confidence in the leadership of the disposed chairman. They said the NBA NEC lacked the constitutional powers to remove an elected chairman of a branch. Five members of the Benin branch executive were suspended by the congress. They included the branch Public Relation Officer, Ebosele Ohifoh, Vice Chairman Emmanuel Ojekhua, Secretary David Maduku, Treasurer J.J Osadiaye and Pearl Agbale. Osifo said, “We see the Jos resolution as an affront and an attempt to ridicule Benin branch. We will not allow it. We are not timid”. “We shall resist any despotic attempt in NBA. The NBA president is from here. He should not annoy us. If he did, we will expel him from this branch because we will not allow him to spoil our future chances.” Reacting, Ebosele described the congress that suspended them as illegal and that the NBA constitution does not recognize the Elders. Ebosele insisted that Iyomon was removed legally by the NEC.]]>