NBA’s 2nd Vice President Ugo Calls For Rejection Of Electoral Appeal Committee Appointments, Citing Lack Of Proper Procedure

The Second Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Chukwuemeka Clement Ugo, has once again criticized the NBA President, Mr. Yakubu Maikyau SAN, accusing him of running a “dictatorship” in the association.

In a recent post on his verified Facebook handle, Ugo alleged that Maikyau has consistently failed to consult the NBA National Executive Committee or present his nominations for various NBA committees before the committee for approval.

This latest criticism comes on the heels of Ugo’s recent accusation that Maikyau has been “Northernising” the venue of NBA National Executive Council (NBA-NEC) meetings, noting that the meetings have been held exclusively in the Northern zone during Maikyau’s nearly two-year tenure, despite the region’s security challenges.

Ugo argues that the practice of not bringing nominees for NBA committees to the attention of the Executive Committee, which comprises National Officers, borders on “dictatorship” and violates the NBA Constitution.

Referring to the recent appointment of members to the NBA Electoral Appeal Committee, Ugo wrote, “Let them know that accepting the position without proper thing to be done is indirectly supporting dictatorship in NBA.”

He further stated, “Names of every committee ought to be brought before those elected by the association to appraise and approve same thereafter send to the NEC for ratification or take the appointment directly to NEC for nomination and appointment, what ever NEC is to be ratified ordinarily ought to have been appraised by the excos under emergency.”

Ugo also pointed out that it has been a convention practiced by past NBA presidents to bring issues of concern to the executive committee for deliberation, even if the president ultimately has the final say. He believes this approach demonstrates a commitment to being a team player in the administration of the Bar.

The Second Vice President concluded his post by urging the leadership and members of the appeal committee, who were solely selected, appointed, nominated, and recommended by the president without input from the national officers, to reject their appointments to set an example as good and loyal bar members.

He called for an end to the era of dictatorship in the NBA and requested that the NBA President go back and follow the proper procedures to ensure that the association’s pride and brand name in promoting the rule of law are properly understood and assimilated.

Meanwhile, lawyers have questioned why the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) makes official publications through the NBA officials for an election in which those same officials would also serve as electorates. They argue that the ECNBA should stop making its official publications through the NBA, as it may blur the supposed independence of the ECNBA and undermine its credibility. This concern is particularly relevant as NBA officials have brought forms for re-election.