Controversy Over Chairmanship Of NBA Abuja Branch: Body Of Vice-Chairmen Kicks Says No To Bye-Election

The Nigerian Bar Association Body of Vice-Chairmen has kicked against moves to conduct election proposed to be held to fill the purported vacant office of the Chairman of the Abuja branch, in spite the fact that the Branch has a Vice-Chairperson at the time the office of the substantive Chairman of the Branch became vacant.

Recall that the former Chairman of the Branch, Hauwa Shekarau, died on Wednesday, September 15, 2021, after a brief illness.

However, the members of the body, who double as the Vice Chairmen of Human Rights Committee of branches, held an emergency meeting on Saturday, the 13th day of November 2021 on the proposed bye-election.

According to them, the motto of the NBA is ‘promoting the rule of law’ and any bye-election in Abuja would be devastating in light of the multiple challenges that Bar presently faces.

They also noted that the qualification requirements for the election of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman are the same. Consequently, they resolved to “prepare for, and proactively respond to the injustice that now seems orchestrated to be meted against the hitherto Vice-Chairperson (now the substantive Chairperson of the NBA-Abuja branch by operation of law) or any other Vice-Chairman of a branch whosoever even if it entails going to court to protect the sanctity, integrity and dignity of the office of the Vice-Chairman of a branch.”

They also resolved that “in the very unlikely event that the NBA Abuja branch refuses, fails and/or neglects to obey the clear and extant provisions of the NBA constitution that is; that the Vice-Chairman of a branch automatically ascends to the substantive office of the Chairman of the branch upon the absence of the Chairman for whatever reason and which was what the ISIALA-NGWA BRANCH DID AFTER THE DEMISE OF HER CHAIRMAN, and as also happened when Bayo Ojo, SAN vacated the office of the President of the NBA, that the Body of Vice-Chairmen will take all lawful actions to seek justice.”

They called on “the President and the National Executive Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association, and the entire members of NBA Abuja Branch to support the NBA-BOVC’s efforts in maintaining justice and obedience to the provisions of the constitution and uniform bye-laws for branches of the NBA.”

They further resolved that “the Chairman of Abuja branch is hereby strongly advised to direct the election committee of the branch to organise an election to fill the position of the Vice-Chairman of the branch that is now vacant.”