Bauchi lawyers ask NBA to rescind decision on El-Rufai or risk boycott

Bauchi State chapter of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has called on the National Executive Committee (NEC) as well as the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association to immediately rescind its decision and apologise to its teeming members over the withdrawal of an invitation to Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai as a guest speaker at its Annual General Conference or face a boycott.

In a letter signed by the State’s NBA Chairman, Abubakar Abdulhamid, and the Secretary, Shansuddeen Magaji, the body threatened to stay away from the annual conference over the withdrawal of El-Rufai’s participation, saying, the NBA should be “seen as promoting the principles of rule of law and attainment of justice to all manner of people irrespective of cultural, tribal, religious or political inclination.

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The letter reads, “Consequent upon the above, we call on the National Executive Committee (NEC) as well as leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association to immediately rescind its decision and apologise to our teeming members for reaching such an unpopular decision, which affects the hard-earned image and integrity of the Nigerian Bar Association as an impartial umpire.”

“Furthermore, failure to rescind its decision, the leadership of our noble branch has resolved unanimously and unequivocally boycotts the forthcoming 2020 NBA conference. We also call on all the members of our branch to comply with the same above.”

“As lawyers, we should know the significance of the Constitution, which is always binding on all its subscribers, now Section 3(6) of the Nigerian Bar Association Constitution and Bye-law emphasised on the maintenance of the highest standard of professional conduct, etiquette and discipline. Let us be promoters of the rule of law and not to be driven by parochial sentiment.”

Meanwhile, A group of lawyers under the aegis of Body of Bauchi Lawyers of Conscience (BOBALAC), through its Chief Convener, Jibrin Sa’id Jibrin Esq has described the NBA decision as “flagrant violation of 36(1) (4) and (5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).”