KIDNAPPING: NBA ABANDONS YOUNG LAWYER AFTER MOB ATTACK

The young lawyer who was nearly lynched by an irate Lagos mob for alleged kidnapping, Ms. Uduak Adams, has been abandoned to her fate by many stakeholders including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), CITY LAWYER can authoritatively report. The attack occurred on Thursday, September 14, 2023.

While Uduak has been shuttling between hospitals in a bid to resolve the injuries sustained during the attack, including an appointment with a neurosurgeon, she has not received any financial support from NBA or any of its branches. CITY LAWYER gathered that the young lawyer has been left to defray all her attendant medical bills from her meagre resources.

Uduak had told CITY LAWYER in an earlier interview that she was squatting in churches due to lack of accommodation and financial resources.

Asked whether she has been healed of the injuries she sustained during the mob attack, Uduak said: “I am still in a lot of physical pains and psychological trauma. It has not been easy for me. I have sleepless nights, and I now live in fear. I don’t feel safe anymore, especially in Lagos and in Nigeria. I feel so lonely and I am battling with a lot of things.”

It is recalled that about two NBA National Officers had visited Uduak alongside some NBA Lagos Branch officials to pledge their support. NBA Uyo Branch and some individuals have also made public statements indicating their desire to see that Uduak gets justice. While Uduak hails from Akwa Ibom State, she is a member of NBA Lagos Branch.

However, when CITY LAWYER asked Uduak whether she has received any financial support from either NBA headquarters or NBA Lagos Branch  towards her medical bills, she said: “I have not received any financial support from NBA National or any of its Branch any where in Nigeria or abroad. I have not received any financial support from any group or stakeholder whatsoever in Nigeria or abroad.”

She however said that “only NBA Lagos has paid only a solidarity visit to me so far. No other group, stakeholder or association has visited. If there is any, I would have mentioned it.”

CITY LAWYER recalls that NBA Uyo Branch had issued a statement vowing to support Uduak in her quest for justice, saying: “The Chairman of NBA Uyo Branch, Augustine Enefiok Udoh Esq. and the Vice Chairman/Chairman of Human Rights Committee of the Branch, Mrs. Angela Mick-Akpabio have reached out to Miss. Uduak Adams, a legal practitioner and a native of Akwa Ibom State based in Lagos State who was recently, tragically and wrongly accused of kidnapping and subsequently subjected to a horrific act of mob violence in Lagos State by being flogged with a horse wipe, struck with planks, and subjected to numerous punches and kicks along Aborishade street, Surulere, Lagos State.

“The Chairman of Uyo Branch thanked the 1st and 3rd Vice Presidents of Nigerian Bar Association, Mrs. Linda Bala and Mrs. Mandy Asagba for the role they played.” It was gathered that the public statement arose from a telephone call to Uduak by one of the branch executives.

Uduak had in an exclusive interview with CITY LAWYER narrated how she nearly lost her life to an irate mob in Aborishade, Surulere, Lagos following a false alarm that she kidnapped a child.

Meanwhile, the prime suspect and mother of the allegedly kidnapped child, as well as an ‘eye-witness’ had been charged to court by the police and remanded at Kirikiri Correctional Centre by the Magistrate’s Court. The matter has been adjourned to October 30, 2023 for trial.

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