A Caretaker Committee has been constituted to run the affairs of the Uyo Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association owing to the inability of the Branch to have a smooth transition from Ememobong Nicholas Udoh’s administration to a new administration.
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The Committee is headed by Francis Ekwere, Esq (a former university law teacher who had served the NBA in various capacities including 1st National Vice President during the tenure of Austin Alegeh, SAN). Essien Essien, Esq (a former Chairman of the Uyo Branch) and, Aver Ishoribo, Esq (a State Counsel at the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Justice) are to serve as members of the Committee. They were sworn-in at the monthly general meeting of the Branch which held at the Bar Secretariat Complex located at Udo Udoma Banking Layout in Uyo. The Committee is mandated to see to the conduct of election for the emergence of a new EXCO in the Branch within one month from the day of its inauguration.
Events that Led to the Constitution of a Caretaker Committee
Ememobong Nicholas Udoh emerged as the Chairman of the Uyo Branch two years ago. The election was to be between him and Anietie Inyang of the Ministry of Justice, Uyo but at the last minute, Anietie was disqualified for reason that he did not have the mandatory number of attendance at Bar meetings. Ememobong then became the sole candidate for the election and won unopposed. He went on with his administration and, a few months to the end of his two year term, he constituted an electoral committee to see to the conduct of election into the various offices in the Branch. The electoral committee was headed by Ekanem Ekanem, Esq, a former Chairman of the Branch.
Forms were sold and aspirants screened. At the end of the exercise, names of persons said to be qualified were published and a date fixed for election. Members of the branch observed that one of the names for the office of Chairman – Uwem Uko Umoh – was not qualified for the office, having not been up to ten years at the Bar. Objections were then raised to the inclusion of his name but the objections were ignored. An appeal was made to the zonal appeals committee of the NBA and in its verdict, the appeals committee noted that Uwem Uko Umoh will be ten years in November 2023, being the eve of his call, and therefore not qualified for the June 2023 election of the Branch. The Chairman of the ELECO was instructed to remove his name from the names of qualified persons. The Chairman of ELECO did not remove the name.
Uwem went to Court
Uwem Ukoh Umoh had approached the Akwa Ibom State High Court to pray the court to restrain the ELECO Chairman from disqualifying him. The matter was assigned to Hon. Justice Ntong Ntong who made an order exparte restraining the Chairman of ELECO from disqualifying Uwem. The defendants in the suit were Ememobong Nicholas Udoh, the Chairman of ELECO and the NBA as a registered body. On hearing about the suit, a member of the branch, Eyibio Udo, Esq applied to be joined and was joined. Facts were duly presented to the court, leading to the court’s invitation of the elders of the Bar to appear in court for prompt settlement of the matter. The elders appeared in court and made their respective submissions and in the end it was held that Uwem Umoh was not qualified for the office and that his name should be removed by the Chairman of ELECO and that a new list should be published.
In compliance with the above decision, a new list was published on the 27th of June, 2023. By the extant provisions of the Bye-Law, such list together with the list of voters must be published at least 14 days before election. At this time, Ememobong’s tenure was already closing and on Friday 30th June, 2023 he gave his valedictory speech and left the stage without a successor. This then warranted the setting up of the Interim Committee to midwife the election for the branch.
The Criticism
Ememobong has been seriously criticised by several members of the Branch over the events that almost tore the Branch apart. Members have said that the Uyo Branch has always been a peaceful and easy-going Branch for several years and that succession has always been successfully done in the Branch. Members have said that the electoral process was tailored to favour the emergence of Uwem Ukoh Umoh at all cost. Uwem and Ememobong are best of friends and have known themselves for over two decades. Members have accused Ememobong of having done everything to ensure the emergence of Uwem Umoh by whatever means, including liaising with the ELECO Chairman to have his name published despite his not meeting the qualification threshold of 10 years.
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