All branch chairmen of NBA branches in Rivers State have in a unanimous letter dissociated themselves from today’s advertised inauguration of the Local Organising Committee for the forthcoming NBA Annual General Conference holding in Port Harcourt.

In a letter obtained by CITY LAWYER, the chairman warned that all Rivers NBA Branches would boycott the forthcoming AGC if urgent steps are not taken to redress the matter, saying: “Anything else would be undermining the Host NBA Branches and their members, and will compel the NBA Branches in Rivers State to boycott the said A.G.C.”

They stated that the planned LOC inauguration has turned NBA tradition on its head, urging NBA President, Mr. Afam Osigwe SAN to intervene urgently to save the situation.

According to the chairmen, “We hereby state categorically that we, the Chairmen of the NBA Branches in Rivers State are embarrassed by the said publication as we were not in any way involved nor consulted in the Constitution of the purported LOC.”

Below is the full text of the statement copied to AGC Planning Committee Chairman, Chief Emeka Obegolu SAN.

17th January, 2025
MAZI AFAM OSIGWE (S.A.N.),
PRESIDENT,
NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION,
N.B.A. NATIONAL SECRETARIAT,
F.C.T., ABUJA

MR. PRESIDENT SIR,

RE: LETTER OF PROTEST AGAINST THE PURPORTED CONSTITUTION AND VIRTUAL INAUGURATION OF THE N.B.A. ANNUAL GENERAL CONFERENCE 2025 LOCAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE

The attention of Chairmen of the 8 Branches of the NBA in Rivers State have been drawn to a Notice being circulated on social media signed by one Boma Owunabo, purportedly inviting some persons to the virtual inauguration of the N.B.A. Annual General Conference 2025 Local Organizing Committee, on Friday 17th January 2025 by 4pm.

We hereby state categorically that we, the Chairmen of the NBA Branches in Rivers State are embarrassed by the said publication as we were not in any way involved nor consulted in the Constitution of the purported LOC.

It is a well known tradition of the Bar that Chairmen of the Branches in the jurisdiction of the Conference drive the activities of the Local Organizing Committee in collaboration with the Annual General Conference Planning Committee (A.G.C.P.C.). The Branch Chairmen are expected to galvanise their members as foot soldiers to facilitate the success of the A.G.C.

It is shocking that this tradition is being breached in the case of the 2025 A.G.C. holding in Rivers State, as the Branch Chairmen are not aware of the plans of the AGC Planning Committee till date, and now have their role of anchoring the L.O.C. hijacked.

We therefore dissociate ourselves from the purported L.O.C. List and virtual inauguration, and call on you, Mr. President, who we know to be a True Bar Man, to address this anomaly urgently, in order to enable the Branch Chairmen perform their Constitutional roles as leaders of the Bar and work towards the success of the A.G.C. in Rivers State. Anything else would be undermining the Host NBA Branches and their members, and will compel the NBA Branches in Rivers State to boycott the said A.G.C.

Long live Nigerian Bar Association!

Signed:

Cordelia U. Eke (Mrs.) _________________
Chairman, Port Harcourt Branch

Hilda Desmond-Ihekaire (Ph.D), _________________
Chairman Ahoada Branch

Simple I. Dioha, Esq., _________________
Chairman, Isiokpo Branch

Abiye A. Abo, Esq. ______________________
Chairman, Degema Branch

Dr. N. A. Duson, ______________________
Chairman, Bori Branch

Dr. Celestine Nwankwo, _______________________
Chairman, Okehi Branch

Tamunosiki A. Roberts, Esq., _______________________
Chairman, Okrika Branch

Ekeledinichukwu Ordu, Esq., _______________________
Chairman, Omoku Branch