Human Rights Activist, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN has backed the withdrawal of the Governor of Kaduna State from being a speaker in the forthcoming NBA Virtual Annual General Conference 2020.
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This is contained in a letter addressed to Chair, Conference Planning Committee, Professor Konyinsola Ajayi, SAN, dated 19th day of August, 2020 which was made available to TheNigeriaLawyer (TNL), titled “RE: 2006 BOYCOTT OF COURTS BY NIGERIAN LAWYERS TO PROTEST DISOBEDIENCE OF COURT ORDERS BY EL-RUFAI & OTHERS”.
“Following the directive of the Nigerian Bar Association the entirety of Nigerian Lawyers boycotted all courts in the country from March 13-14, 2006 to protest the disobedience of court orders by some officials and agencies of the Federal Government. 3 out of the 8 orders listed by NBA at the material time were flagrantly disobeyed by the administration of the Federal Capital Territory under the leadership of Mr. Nasir El-Rufai.” He said.
Furthermore, it was noted that despite the directive of the Federal Government of Nigeria, the present Governor of Kaduna State under his then leadership at FCT failed to comply with court orders.
“Embarrassed by the popular protest embarked upon by the Nigerian Bar Association the Federal Government directed the then-Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bayo Ojo SAN to ensure compliance with the orders that were being disobeyed. It is on record that while other departments and agencies complied with the court orders the Federal Capital Territory ignored the directive of the Federal Government to kowtow to the rule of law. As if that was not enough, Mallam El-Rufai has continued to treat court orders with absolute contempt.” He said.
Hence, he noted that the invitation is inconsistent with the Rule of Law principle in which the Bar is being driven and thus, the NBA Constitution should be respected.
“You will agree with us that Mallam El-Rufai’s penchant for disobeying court orders is inconsistent with the aims and objects of the Nigerian Bar Association which include the promotion and protection of the Rule of Law. See Article 3 of the 2019 Constitution of the Nigerian Bar Association.
“Since the Conference Planning Committee is bound by the provisions of the Nigerian Bar Association the invitation extended to Mallam Nasir El-Rufai to address the 60th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association should be withdrawn as the Nigerian Bar Association cannot afford to associate with public officers who promote impunity in the country.”
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