Communique’: NBA-NEC Advises NASS To Override President Buhari’s Veto On Indirect Primaries

*Expresses Concern Over Disclaimer Of RPC Amendment By The AGF
*Passes Vote Of Confidence On NBA President, Olumide Akpata
*Resolves To Suspend Physical Meetings
*Resolves To Sue EFCC Over Attack On NBA Chairman, Makurdi Branch
*Resolves That Practicing Fees Will Be Paid Online Effective From 2022

The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has issued a Communique’ regarding the meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Association which held on the 16th of December, 2021, at Peacock Hall, Providence Hotel & Suites MKO Abiola Way, Abeokuta, Ogun, State.

The Communique is jointly signed by the NBA President, Olumide Akpata, and the NBA General Secretary, Mrs. Joyce Oduah. According to the communique, the NBA NEC has advised the National Assembly to override the veto of President Buhari.

The NBA NEC also expressed concern over the disclaimer of the amendment of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners, 2007 by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN. The NEC also passed a vote of confidence on Akpata. It resolved to suspend physical meetings.

Other resolutions were to drag EFCC to court over attack on the Chairman of the NBA Makurdi Branch. He payment of Bar Practicing Fees shall be done online commencing from January 2022

Read details below

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF QUARTERLY (HYBRID) MEETING OF THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL (NEC) OF THE NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION WHICH HELD ON THURSDAY, 16TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 2021 AT PEACOCK HALL, PROVIDENCE CENTRE M.K.O ABIOLA WAY, ABEOKUTA, OGUN STATE

1.0 INTRODUCTION
The Nigerian Bar Association held its Quarterly National Executive Council (NEC) Meeting on Thursday, 16th December, 2021 at the Peacock Hall, Providence Centre Abeokuta, Ogun State with delegates participating physically and virtually in keeping with Covid-19 Regulations.

2.0 RESOLUTIONS
At the said meeting, NEC carefully considered and deliberated on various issues affecting the Bar and the Nation, consequent upon which the following resolutions were reached:

State of the Nation

2.1 NEC called on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Mohammadu Buhari to speedily sign the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill into law before the timeline expires and where he fails to do so, charged the National Assembly to exercise its powers under the Constitution by overriding the presidential veto.

2.2 NEC expressed deep sadness over the continued deterioration of national security and drew particular attention to the precarious security situation in Zamfara State which has become a real threat to legal practice in the State.

2.3 In view of the above, NEC reiterated its call on the Federal Government and security agencies to carry out their primary constitutional duty to ensure the safety of life and property in Zamfara State and throughout the nation.

2.4 NEC commended the NBA President- Olumide Akpata on the steps he had taken to ensure that the circumstances surrounding the illegal siege on Hon. Justice Mary Peter Odili’s residence is properly investigated and the culprits brought to book.

2.5 NEC expressed deep concern at the remarks of the Hon. Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami SAN, in a recent Television interview, to the effect that he was not privy to the purported amendment of the Rules of Professional Conduct (“RPC”) which was alleged to have been effected on the 3rd of September, 2020. NEC takes the view that the statement of the AGF is rather curious considering that the purported amendment, which bears his signature, is contained in a Federal Gazzette which has been in circulation and in the public domain for over one year. NEC also expressed worry that the AGF has also denied knowledge of the Task Force allegedly working under him and who are alleged to have laid siege on the residence of Justice Mary Peter Odili on 29th October, 2021.

State of the Bar
2.6 Vote of Confidence on the President. NEC commended the NBA President, Olumide Akpata, for his excellent, proactive and purposeful leadership of the Association since he assumed office. NEC noted that the President has completely changed the NBA narrative and that perception of the Association in the eyes of the public has been positively altered. NEC then proceeded to pass a unanimous vote of confidence on the President.

2.7 NEC frowned at and unequivocally condemned the unwarranted attack on the President of the NBA by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN and declared that the President of the NBA, Olumide Akpata, has the total support of all members of the Association in the discharge of their collective mandate.

2.8 NEC resolved to suspend the holding of physical meetings for the time being, and to resort to virtual meetings due to the surge in the Omicron variant of Covid-19 Virus and the Security concerns in the country.

2.9 On the issue of conflicting orders emanating from Courts in Rivers, Kebbi and Cross River States, in respect of some political cases, NEC resolved to refer all members of the Association who appear to have
been complicit in these unfortunate episodes, to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee to serve as a deterrence to others.

2.10 NEC resolved that with regard to the proposed amendment of the Legal Practitioners Act, the Chief Anthony Idigbe Committee version of the Bill, with attendant modifications, which must inter-alia provide for the independence of the NBA, shall be the working document of the Bar in the amendment process.

2.11 NEC expressed dissatisfaction at the attitude of some of her members representing the NBA in statutory bodies and resolved that all members of the Bar that are representatives of the Bar in agencies, committees and other bodies must henceforth appear at NEC meetings to give periodic reports of their activities.

2.12 NEC reiterated its commitment to taking legal action against the EFCC over the attack on the Chairman of the Makurdi Branch of the NBA, Justin Gbagir, by men of the Makurdi Zonal Office of the EFCC. The legal team in this regard, is to be led by Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN.

2.13 NEC received with shock the report of the NBA Warri Branch Chairman on the humiliating treatment meted out to a senior Warri based Lawyer by Okon Abang J. of the Warri Division of the Federal High Court who is alleged to have directed the said Lawyer, Mr. Andrew Ubido, in open Court, to stand and face the wall for “making noise in the Court Registry”. NEC resolved to write to the National Judicial Council to formally complain about this unfortunate episode.

2.14 NEC resolved that with effect from 1st January 2022, payment of Bar Practicing Fees (BPF) by Lawyers shall be done online and no longer manually in banking halls.

2.15 NEC approved the appointment of Byteworks Technology Solutions Limited, the Information Technology Company contracted by the Digital NBA Committee, to overhaul the Association’s digital/IT infrastructure .

2.16 NEC expressed alarm at the seemingly surreptitious manner in which 22 judges of the FCT High Court were recently appointed. NEC called on the NJC to always ensure that the process for appointing of judicial officers is open, transparent and rigorous.

2.17 NEC approved the setting up of the NBA Fund Committee which will inter-alia be responsible for the establishment and operation of the NBA Stabilization Fund in which the reserves of the Association will be held.

Membership of the Committee is as follows:

I. George Etomi – Chairman
II. Melah Nunghe, SAN – Member
III. Yemi Akangbe – Member
IV. Sylvester Adaka – Member
V. Desmond Ogba – Member
VI. Kunle Edun – Member
VII. Oyeyemi Oke – Member

2.18 NEC approved the establishment of the NBA Access to Finance Scheme which will enable members of the Association access loans, at single digit or less than market interest rates for their working capital and operational needs, from designated commercial banks under an arrangement that will be back-stopped and/or cash-backed with funds in the the NBA Stabilization Fund.

2.19 NEC approved the setting up of the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) to inter-alia conduct the election of National Officers of the Association in 2022.

The Committee is made up of the following members:
1) Ayo Akintunde, SAN – Chairman
2) Prof. Chidi Odinkalu – Member
3) Basil Udotai – Member
4) Aisha Ado Abdullahi – Member
5) Mabel Ekeke – Secretary

2.20 In light of the incessant harassment of Lawyers by members of various security agencies in the country, NEC approved the establishment of the NBA Security Agencies Relations Committee to liaise with security agencies with a view to stemming this ugly trend and to engender a harmonious and mutually beneficial working relationship between members of the Association and members of the various Security
Agencies.

The members of the Committee are as follows:
1) J. K. Gadzama, SAN – Chairman
2) Alex Mouka – Alternate Chairman
3) Taiwo Lakanu (AIG) (Rtd) – Member
4) Mohammed Tsav – Member
5) Valentine Odili – Member
6) Linda Adanna Ubu – Member
7) M. A. O. Iyamanbhor – Member
8) Julie Ariahu – Member
9) Salman Salman – Member
10) Emeka Otagburagu – Member
11) Marian Jones – Secretary
12) Peter C. Ikebuaso – Member

2.21 NEC approved the setting up of the Governing Board of the NBA Human Rights Institute (NBA-HRI) which is made up of the underlisted persons:
1) Chino Obiagwu, SAN – Chairman
2) Olawale Fapohunda, SAN – Co-Chairman
3) Sule Usman, SAN – Member
4) Prof. Joy Ezeilo – Member
5) Funmi Adeogun – Member
6) Jude Udo Ilo – Member
7) Osita Okoro – Member
8) Gabriel Ikeji – Member
9) Rommy Mom – Member
10) Florence Obiakor – Member
11) Somina Johnbull – Member
12) Dr. Moses Arome – Member

Dated this 16thday of December, 2021
_____________________
OLUMIDE AKPATA GENERAL
PRESIDENT SECRETARY