*Says Funmi Roberts, Okey Ohagba And Huwaila Muhammed Ibrahim Actively Supported Y.C. Maikyau’s Campaign

The President candidate of the just concluded general elections of the Nigerian Bar Association, Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama SAN, said he will not be approaching the National Elections Appeals Committee((NBA-NEAC).

This was disclosed in a letter addressed to the president of the Association Olumide Akpata, and signed by  Chukwudi Oli the Director-General and O. E. Oluwabiyi, the Admin Office.

In the letter the Learned Silk noted that some members of Committee were supporters of the president elect and as much will not give sound verdict on the matter.

They stated in the letter, “we wish to bring to your attention that our candidate, Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama, SAN will not be exploring the option of approaching the Committee on the following grounds…

The letter titled “RESERVATIONS ABOUT THE NBA NATIONAL ELECTIONS APPEALS COMMITTEE (NBA-NEAC) and signed by  Chukwudi Oli and O. E. Oluwabiyi, the Director-General and Admin Officer respectively, doubted the neutrality of former NBA National Officer and Appeals Committee member, Mr. Okey Ohagba, saying that he “was an active Coordinator in Port Harcourt for Y. C. Maikyau, SAN.”

The duo further alleged that Mrs. Huwaila Muhammed Ibrahim, who is also a member of the Committee “actively and openly posted contents on her Facebook platform projecting Y. C. Maikyau, SAN.”

“Non-neutrality” of these members of the Appeals Committee “poses elements of bias by virtue of their active participation in the campaign activities of Y. C. Maikyau, SAN in the recently concluded National Elections which held on Saturday, 16th July, 2022.

“We sincerely believe that the aforementioned persons will not be able to discharge the duties of the Committee devoid of sentiments and biases and hence, present no guarantee of credibility and fairness in administering unbiased decisions and findings. We have attached some screen pictures of displays by these persons in support of Y. C. Maikyau, SAN during the period of campaign activities. Please see Annexure NBA1 and Annexure NBA2;

“The refusal of the ECNBA to allow an election audit which would examine the Election/Result Logs and the platform for the election as requested by our candidate’s Agent, Andrew Agbo-Madaki in his letter dated Saturday, 16th July, 2022 further renders our cause a herculean task if not an impossible one before the Committee, whose duty is essentially factfinding.

“As a result of the aforementioned grounds and circumstances, personal reasons of Chief Gadzama, SAN have also arisen.

“In precis, we firmly believe that the leadership of the NBA has a duty to maintain a level playing ground for all stakeholders and parties, and to guarantee the integrity of the post-election process.”

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