NBA President Yakubu Maikyau SAN Addresses Financial Impropriety Accusations At 2023 AGM

Speaking at the 2023 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), President Yakubu Maikyau SAN addressed contentions around financial accountability and extravagant expenditures.

In his address to “distinguished colleagues,” Maikyau affirmed the AGM as the appropriate forum to clarify his stance before deliberations advance. He assured adherence to due process rather than rushed actions.

Emphasizing his position as NBA President is by “divine grace,” Maikyau rejected contrary beliefs. He vowed awareness of associated responsibilities.

Focusing on the crux of contentions, Maikyau highlighted lawyers’ annual Bar Practicing Fees as the NBA’s financial bedrock. Recalling his modest upbringing, he noted the hardship of rural practitioners in paying even the 25,000 Naira basic fee.

 

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Maikyau denied having monetary reserves when assuming the Presidency. He pledged using personal resources in serving lawyers who entrusted him.

Specifically, upon assuming office, Maikyau received officers’ requests to attend the International Bar Association (IBA) conference. Shocked by the extravagant cost estimation, and considering last year’s self-funded trip by the General Secretary, Maikyau rejected what he saw as lavish expenditure given their recent assumption of duties.

Regarding the Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) conference in Goa, Maikyau disclosed self-funding his and the Treasurer’s travels, refusing to burden the NBA. He insisted he lacked abundance but acted to appreciate lawyers’ trust without taking more NBA funds.

Maikyau then referenced an initial memo estimating $16,869 for two officers to attend the upcoming IBA conference, equating this amount to insuring 1,000 NBA members.

With numerous officers requesting IBA funding, Maikyau secured a fresh estimate but declined revealing the figure at the AGM. He implied it cemented his anti-extravagance stance despite not intending to raise the issue publically.

 

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Maikyau’s address signaled a strong response to officers accusing him of financial impropriety. By positioning himself as a prudent custodian of NBA finances who leads by example, Maikyau aimed to counter allegations and reassure lawyers of his integrity.