#EndSARS: NBA-NEC Urges President Of The Association, Olumide Akpata, To Meet With Buhari, AGF And IGP

Past presidents, past General Secretaries and branch chairmen and the National officers of the Nigerian Bar Association at its emergence NEC meeting which was held virtually on Thursday discussed on how the NBA can interface with the federal government, state governments, and various security agencies on the ongoing protest that has turn into a complete break down of law and order.

It was suggested that the NBA president should meet with Buhari, Attorney general, Inspector general of police

Past NBA President, J.B Daudu, SAN, and former Chairman SPIDEL, Paul Ananaba, SAN, called on NBA to intervene at this critical time stating that failure to do so could degenerate into anarchy and the country cannot afford to go into anarchy. They also urged the president to interface with the government at all levels.

Chairman, NBA Ukwa, Samuel Nwosu, stressed the need for the NBA President to lead a delegation of the Bar to President Buhari and the Attorney General of the Federation, in order to get them into making statements with regards the ongoing national issue—The EndSARS protest. Also, he noted that the NBA president should always speak to “power” as that’s the only way to ensure that those in authority respect the views of the NBA.

Chairman, NBA Benin Branch, Pius Oiwoh, Esq., noted that Benin branch has been a recipient of the NBA’s Goodwill by assisting in securing the release of arrested protester through their various pro bono services. He condemned what he considered as the double standard of the security forces citing examples of such some of which led to the Jailbreak in Benin. In addition to the suggested meeting of the NBA president with President Buhari and the AGF, he considered that Mr. Akpata should meet with the IGP as these protests were a stage in a specific location and the police should have offered protection to these protesters, but they didn’t. Mr. Oiwou further said that the NBA should continue to interface with all security agencies and they should not see NBA as a threat. He however urged NBA to rise and condemn all forms of illegality.

The immediate past Chairman, NBA-SBL, Seni Adio, SAN, considered that the NBA cannot afford to allow the country go into anarchy due to the present circumstance. For the learned Silk, the Government must seek to engage the protesters in such a way that no part of the group is left behind. While acknowledging the challenge with that giving that the protesters have refused to endorse any leader.

He considered it needful that the state governments as the chief security of the state should not remain silent. They should conduct an investigation and submit the reports of their various Panel of Inquiry to the appropriate body for disciplinary action, and all offenders should be prosecuted for wrongdoing as there exist evidence via social media reports.

Speaking on the ugly event they were experiencing, Chairman Ondo branch, Thompson Akinyemi, brought the attention of NEC to the burning of the High Court in Okitipka (Ondo State), whilst noting that the inability of Mr. President (Buhari) to timely intervene in the ongoing national crisis has led to the present outrage and destruction, hence the president needs to address the nation, dialogue with the protesters and ensure the prosecution of the soldiers that carried at the killings at Lekki toll gate.

Former Chairman Kano, Abdul Fagge, condemned the ugly incident that has plagued the nation, from the side of the security officers as well as the violence and vandalism by thugs. He also noted that the problem with the nation is not the lack of legislation but the implementation of existing legislation. The chairman of the NBA Kano called for the training and re-training of the security officers so that we won’t have a repeat of the SARS characteristic. Mr. Fagge also made a case for the recomposition of the Police Service Commission (PSC) to include Judges, Lawyers, CSO, and Retired military personnel, so as to enable accountability and transparency.

Yemi Akangbe, Chairman Lagos notified NEC that the NBA office at the City hall (Igbosere) was ransacked while the courthouse was looted and vandalized. He made a case for the Leadership of the NBA to engage the government at this point in time and carrying the demands of the protesters to the Government.

Chairman Bwari, Clems Democrats, urged the NBA leadership to reflect on while the thugs are attacking the Judiciary as this may be a sign that the NBA has failed the people and should wake up. He noted that the demands sought by the protesters cannot be met in a day as it will take time.

Dr. Paul, Chairman Calabar branch, informed NEC of the Acting Chief Judge of Cross River. He also stressed on the need to support the Motion of SPIDEL and if approved, it should form part of the communique. Whilst noting the need to come out with a resolution at the end of the meeting.

R.A Lawal-Rabana SAN, said there’s a need to distinguish between the immediate and long term suggestions in the SPIDEL report and concentrate on the short term effect which may be material to the current national situation. He urged the NBA to always stick to her mandate and not dabble into national politics so that it won’t seem like a biased body, and her goodwill will become wrongly interpreted. He suggested the need for the NBA national to carry every branch along, and that the NBA president makes available a speech to be read by all the various NBA branches in other to inform their local communities what the NBA is doing, noting that not everyone has access to the internet.

The Honourable Justice Prince Adesuyi (Past GS of NBA):
As an association, there’s a need to define the capabilities, roles, and limitations of the body. The roles which include protection of peoples’ right and also the proclamation of the law amongst others. He stressed on the need for the NBA to affirm the rights of people to protest and the need for the security personnel to act within the limits of the law and the various Rules of engagement. He condemned the various forms of arson, violence, and criminality being perpetrated by hoodlums.

The Honorable Judge stressed the need for the NBA to remain apolitical as the credibility of the body is most important and so the body should be, careful on the promises it makes. He considered the need for dialogue with the protesters and the security agencies and thereafter, present their considerations to Mr. President. He urged the NBA to look into the composition of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) with regards to the composition of the governing body and its ability to take a certain action.

In response to all the issues and recommendations made by NEC, the President, Olumide Akpata, thanked the chairman for their prompt interventions. He informed the house that the NBA would look into the report of SPIDEL (which Committee is led by Mr Ananaba, SAN) and pick those recommendations that will work best for the Association and the country. He said the recommendations are something that NBA will be looking at closely and the Association will be very mindful of how to deal with it. He, however, expressed his displeasure with the fact that the report is already been circulated on social media even when NEC is yet to go through it, Mr. Akpata demanded the retraction of the report from the social space.

Any Other Business

1) Olamide Akpata: The schedule NEC meeting for the fourth quarter is proposed to hold at the last week of November, but date and time is still unsettled.

2) Chairman, NBA Jos, Mr. Bawa Yakubu wanted to know whether the NBA shouldn’t be part of the Judicial Panel of an inquiry being constituted by state governors, or should they have a separate group or body to consider the challenges.

Mr Akpata in response said If the Constituted authority did not see it wise to include the NBA separate, then there’s no need to force ourselves into these committees, however, our members are still being called to serve in these panels as CSOs.

3) Past GS Oluseun Abimbola, said the NBA should have sustained a campaign against brutality of any kind. The NBA silence has somewhat encouraged the brutality and unlawful acts of the security officers. The NBA should consider offering some policy advice to the IGP, and the discretion to follow or reject this advice should be theirs.

The motion of adjournment of the meeting was made by the Chairman of NBA Ukwa branch and seconded by the Chairman, NBA Degema branch.