The African Women Lawyers Association, Nigeria, has rejected the purported suspension of its National President, Mrs Caroline Ibharuneafe, Esq., by a body styling itself AWLA International, and has denounced what it describes as a campaign of publications aimed at manufacturing authority over it.
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The position was set out in an official disclaimer and rebuttal signed by the association’s Public Relations Officer, Dr Grace Chigala Ajaegbo, Esq., PhD, and copied to the Nigerian Bar Association, all NBA branches, the Trustees and Past Presidents of AWLA Nigeria, the International Bar Association and the African Bar Association.
AWLA Nigeria said the publication had also described its duly constituted leadership as a breakaway faction, a characterisation it rejects along with the purported suspension and every directive contained in the publication.
The association’s central contention is that no relationship of authority exists between it and the body now claiming supervisory jurisdiction.
“AWLA Nigeria has never been a chapter, branch, subsidiary or constituent part of any organisation styling itself ‘AWLA International,’” the statement said. “Any contrary representation is false and is hereby expressly rejected.”
It described itself as a duly established and legally registered organisation in its own right, whose existence and legal personality do not derive from and are not subject to the authority of the unregistered body.
“AWLA Nigeria does not answer to any purported parent organisation within Africa,” it said, adding that it maintains cordial relationships and sisterly affiliations with African Women Lawyers Association bodies in other African countries, and that such relationships do not create a parent-subsidiary relationship or confer supervisory jurisdiction on any external body.
The association said the President holds an elected mandate that is not in the gift of the body purporting to suspend her.
“Mrs Caroline Ibharuneafe, Esq. is the duly elected President of AWLA Nigeria. She was not appointed to the office by the unregistered purported ‘AWLA International,’ nor does she hold her mandate at its pleasure,” it said.
“Consequently, a body to which she does not belong and which has no constitutional, statutory or legal jurisdiction over AWLA Nigeria cannot purport to suspend her from an office to which she was duly elected.”
On the description of its leadership as a breakaway faction, the association said: “One cannot ‘break away’ from an organisation of which one was never constitutionally or legally a chapter.”
AWLA Nigeria said it was particularly concerned by what it called an incessant campaign of media publications apparently aimed at manufacturing visibility, attracting public attention and creating a false impression of authority through repetition.
“Publicity does not create jurisdiction. Repetition does not create legal personality. Media publications do not confer constitutional authority,” the statement said.
The association advised the general public, the Nigerian Bar Association and its branches, the African Bar Association, the International Bar Association, government institutions, professional organisations, development partners and other stakeholders to disregard in their entirety any purported suspension, directive, resolution or publication issued by the body insofar as it purports to exercise authority over AWLA Nigeria or its officers.
It called on the publishers and sponsors of the publications to stop misrepresenting the constitutional and legal relationship between the two organisations and to desist from creating confusion within the legal profession and the wider public.
The statement placed the group on formal notice regarding the President.
“The unregistered ‘AWLA International’ is hereby warned to immediately desist from further mentioning, referring to, representing, alluding to, or otherwise associating Mrs Caroline Ibharuneafe, Esq. with its purported disciplinary proceedings, resolutions or sanctions,” it said.
“Any further unauthorised publication or reference concerning her will be treated with the seriousness it deserves and may attract appropriate legal action without further notice.”
The association said it remains focused on advancing women’s rights, children’s rights, access to justice, professional excellence, legal advocacy and the protection of vulnerable persons, and would not be distracted by what it described as an orchestrated campaign for media attention.
“Those seeking recognition should earn it through lawful existence, legitimate governance and demonstrable service, not manufactured authority through press releases,” it said.
It concluded: “AWLA Nigeria remains AWLA Nigeria.”
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