The Muslim Lawyers Association of Nigeria (MULAN), Kaduna Branch, has instructed its members to boycott the 2020 Virtual Annual General Conference (AGC) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) slated to hold from 26th to 29th of August, 2020.
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/NBBSPIDEL.png")
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2026-Summer-IDRI-Masterclass.jpg")
This is contained in a statement signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the Muslim body and made available to TheNigeriaLawyer (TNL)
The National Executive Committee of NBA had during its virtual meeting on the 20th of August, 2020 dis-invited the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, to serve as a speaker during the conference
According to MULAN, the dis-invitation is parochial, sentimental, disuniting and tainted with favouritism and ethno-religious considerations.
“The MULAN Kaduna Branch is bewildered and disappointed at the unfortunate dis-invitation of His Excellency, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, Executive Governor of Kaduna State to the Annual General Conference (AGC) of the Nigerian Bar Association, 2020. The said decision of the NBA NEC is deemed by MULAN Kaduna Branch as being parochial, sentimental, disuniting and tainted with favouritism and ethno-religious considerations.”
MULAN observed that killings and Kidnappings have been ravaging other parts of the country like Katsina, Zamfara, Niger and other states and the killings in Katsina alone outnumbers the ones in Southern Kaduna but wonders why NBA chose to keep quite.
“The MULAN Kaduna has watched with dismay how the NBA has kept mute in the face of genocide going on in the North East, Banditry and Kidnappings in Katsina, Zamfara, Niger, and Kebbi states, and Giwa and Birnin Gwari in Kaduna State with the NBA giving surreptitious ethnic cover to Southern Kaduna as if lives matter more in some parts of the Country over the others.
“MULAN Kaduna makes bold to say that lives lost in Batsari, Katsina State far outnumbers that of 8 local governments of Southern Kaduna put together. This isn’t to say MULAN Kaduna justifies losses of lives anywhere and in any guise.
” MULAN Kaduna wonders where was the posturing of NBA at the many lives lost in Borno State?”
MULAN said “what is sauce for the goose should be sauce for the gander”. NBA should have dis-invited Governor Nyesom of Rivers State too for declaring Rivers a Christian State contrary to section 10 of Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
“Without mincing words, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 precisely, section 10 states in clear terms that “the Government of Federation or of any state shall not adopt any religion as a State religion”
“We are witnesses to how Governor Nyesom Wike demolished a mosque and came out openly to say “I repeat once again without apologies, Rivers is a Christian State. That is why nobody can touch us”. We believe that NBA NEC deemed these utterances glorious hence the lofty invitation to Nyesom Wike to use our hallowed platform to propagate his governance inklings and dis-invitation of Governor El-Rufai. MULAN Kaduna Branch believes what is sauce for the goose should be sauce for the gander.”
Furthermore, the Muslim lawyers’ body disagreed with NBA President, Paul Usoro SAN, over his explanation that the dis-invitation of El-Rufai had no religious coloration. MULAN said if it were not so, El-Rufai’s dis-invitation letter would have been sent directly to him instead of being sent through the Nigerian Governors Forum.
“The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Paul Usoro, SAN said “NEC’s decision yesterday had no ethnic or religious colouration or connotation howsoever and whatsoever”. MULAN Kaduna Branch asks Mr. President if the topic: who is a Nigerian? has anything to do with Southern Kaduna. An honest answer in this direction would reveal the clandestine motive of the NBA.
“The paragraph 7 of the letter of the president requesting the Governor’s Forum to communicate the dis-invitation to His Excellency, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai is certainly sinister as MULAN Kaduna wonders if the letter inviting him was routed through the Governors’ Forum in the first place! What stops Mr. President from sending the letter of dis-invitation to Governor El-Rufai directly? At any rate, the impression earlier created before the emergence of NBA President’s Letter to the Nigerian Governor’s Forum (NGF) was that the decision had been communicated to Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai directly.”
MULAN therefore instructed its members to boycott the 2020 NBA AGC and urged Muslim lawyers across the country to join in the boycott.
“There is certainly more to it than meets the eye in the circumstances and to be modest, the NBA President’s assertion as contained in the letter to the NGF cannot be far from the truth as to the ethno-religious drive in the whole of what have played out.
“In conclusion and in view of the unfortunate decision of the NBA NEC, MULAN Kaduna Branch is left with no other option than to instruct its members to withdraw their participation in the forthcoming NBA AGC and enjoins all Muslim lawyers in Nigeria to join in the boycott.
“MULAN Kaduna Branch reaffirms their support to Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai in his office to stem the tide of insecurity in Kaduna State generally and Southern Kaduna in particular.
“While we pray for the repose of the souls of all the innocent victims of the gruesome killings across the country, we pray Allah SWT to grant our leaders the will to use all the legal machineries of State in Nigeria to bring to book all perpetrators of heinous crimes and violence in Southern Kaduna in particular and Nigeria in general. Ameen.”
Interested buyers are encouraged to place their orders and enquiries via:
0704 444 4777, 0704 444 4999, 0818 199 9888
Website: www.alexandernigeria.com
