Lawyers Clash over formation of New NBA

One of the Conveners of the new Nigerian Bar Association (NNBA), Muhammad Daee Abubakar has denied that the Association was formed because Governor Nasir El-rufai was disinvited as a Speaker in the just concluded NBA conference.

But, Barristers Ifeanyi Nrialike and Isaac Ogbah stated that the group decided to form New NBA because Governor El-rufai was disinvited as speaker at the annual conference.

The lawyers spoke during an Elombah Television virtual conference titled, ‘The New Nigeria Bar Association (nNBA) Faction, is it Necessary?’ and held on  Tuesday, September 1, 2020. [SEE VIDEO BELOW]

Muhammad while justifying the formation of New NBA said, ” We totally debunked that very insinuation in fact, it is even provoking to conclude that the formation of New NBA is as a result of what happened in respect of the disinvitation of Governor El-rufai that prompted this very move.

“We cannot just rely on one of the things that have happened in NBA and decided to pull out and form New NBA.

“What happened with his Excellency Malam Nasir El-rufai could happen to anybody because we are human .

“The decision of NEC of NBA to screen Malam El-rufai is correct and that decision is final, that decision is very okay within their fold.

“The initiator of the New NBA which I am one of them spreads across the nation. So, it wrong to say one particular region is coming out to form new NBA.

“Let me give you a clear instance of what I am saying. I am from Edo state, the second convener is from Southern Kaduna, and so it will be very very wrong for one to think, it is a regional creation that is giving birth to New NBA, we spread across the federation.”

READ ALSO: Falana, Akintola lacks moral authority to support new NBA – Lawyer

Responding, Barrister Nrialike said, “Barrister Abubakar is being economical with the truth.

“The question is, whether the new NBA is necessary? I will answer that it is absolute unnecessary, the formation of new NBA bothers on tribal sentiment .

“We all know the reason why Governor El-rufai was disinvited, he was disinvited as a result of the massacre that was going on in Southern Kaduna and he has refused to lift a finger, so many times.

They conveners clearly gave their reasons for that particular formation. It was a fall out of the decision of NBA to disinvite El-rufai. It absolutely unnecessary to form new NBA. This new NBA is dead on arrival. ”

Barrister Nuhu Ibrahim in his own justification for the formation of New NBA said, “you can term our mission rescue mission, NBA for a very long time has been under the government of a clique who are self serving for a very long time, they have not taken into consideration the interest of lawyers.

But responding to the justification, Barrister Ogbah said, “We have freedom of association, so whether Abubakar likes it or not or any other person, they can go and form any association they like, they have the right to do so.

“Even within the NBA, we have “Egbe Amofin”, we have mid-western forum , the same way we have Arewa Lawyers Forum, the same way we have Eastern Bar forum, we even have the Christian Lawyers and we also have MULAN, but whatever nomenclature they call themselves, they are still under NBA.

“Legally speaking, new BA can’t be a replacement for NBA, Abubakar is being economical with the truth.

“They have issued several press statements regarding why they are forming this new NBA, but unfortunately, he is denying the reason behind the formation of new NBA .

“We have several press statements stating that fact as one of the reasons, they even wrote a letter to the Attorney General of Federation stating that, they even claim that there are cabals within NBA , but unfortunately, they have not been bold enough to name the so called Cabal.”

VIDEO: The New Nigeria Bar Association (nNBA) Faction, is it Necessary

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