BOYCOTT

  • EDITOR'S CHOICE
  • Sep 01, 2022
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  • Comments Off on AKPATA REGIME BOYCOTT: EGBE AMOFIN ‘DISOWNS’ AKINTOLA

AKPATA REGIME BOYCOTT: EGBE AMOFIN ‘DISOWNS’ AKINTOLA

The influential umbrella body of lawyers of Yoruba extraction, Egbe Amofin O’odua has distanced itself from the assertion by its Deputy Leader and prominent lawyer, Chief Niyi Akintola SAN that the bloc took a decision to boycott the Olumide Akpata-led Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

In an interview with a national daily, the Chairman of Egbe Amofin O’doua and former NBA General Secretary, Mr. Isiaka Olagunju SAN said that he is “not aware of that decision.” Olagunju also stated that the Yoruba cannot abandon NBA.

Saying that “Chief Akintola is entitled to his opinion,” the Egbe Amofin helmsman however stated that aside from being absent from the meeting where the alleged decision was taken, “I didn’t receive any handing over note to say that the Yoruba Lawyers Association should not participate in any of the NBA’s indices (sic).”

According to the PUNCH report, Olagunju was reacting to comments by Akintola on the unruly actions of some lawyers at the just concluded NBA  Annual General Conference.

CITY LAWYER recalls that Akintola had in an interview with FRESH FM, Ibadan said: “When that boy Akpata came on board, we the Yoruba leaders, the Egbe Amofin, we took the unified position that we will not dignify that boy with our presence at any of his Bar gathering. Unfortunately, some of our people who took that decision alongside with us betrayed that trust.”

But Olagunju, in a chat with Judiciary Watch, on Tuesday, said he was not aware the group took such decision.

He said, “I am not aware of that decision. However, Chief Akintola is entitled to his opinion, and I was not in the meeting. By the record you can get from Akpata’s administration, you can see that Yoruba lawyers played prominent roles. There are quite a number of Yoruba lawyers who chaired some committees, even the election was led by a Yoruba man.

“I was at the NBA conference, Professor (Folake) Solanke was there, Lateef Fagbemi, Mallam Yusuf Ali, Dr Babatunde Ajibade (all Senior Advocates of Nigeria), several leaders and elders in Yoruba land were at the conference. So I am not aware, because I didn’t receive any handing over note to say that the Yoruba Lawyers Association should not participate in any of the NBA’s indices.

“It is our bar; Yoruba are the cutting edge of the NBA, how could we abandon the house that we have built?”

Mr. Ifedayo Adedipe, SAN, a member of the association, asked to be counted out of such an agreement if it ever existed. The lawyer said Akintola spoke for himself “and maybe people who attended such a meeting with him.”

He said, “I can tell you for free that any attempt at dividing the association along ethnic, regional or religious grounds, is bound to fail. It is a purely professional body, and while I recognise the right of people to hold views, I do not think it would be helpful to say that a regional body would be set up to say that whomever the president at one point or the other would not be supported for whatever reason.”

Disagreeing with Akintola’s position, Seyi Wemimo (sic), SAN stated that the legal luminary should have gone further to say what would have been done better had Egbe Amofin supported Akpata’s administration.

He said, “The reality is that Akpata has already finished his term, and I don’t know whether if the Egbe Amofin group had supported him, we would have seen any greater performance.

“Again, as the president of the bar, Akpata is supposed to be independent-minded. Despite what Egbe amofin may have held, he (Akpata) succeeded in becoming the president of the bar, which shows that the body did not have any remarkable influence on the outcome of the election.”

Mr. Dele Adesina, SAN, who seemed to be in agreement with the learned silk, stated that the Egbe Amofin had their grievances, and nobody can blame them for taking the decision they think they wanted to take, and they took.

“I don’t think that is an issue you should flog, because that administration is over. Generally, there are people who don’t hide their feelings; they say it as it is. Different folks and different strokes, that is what life is made of.

“The fact that the administration has ended made the discussion a little academic. They had their (Egbe Amofin) grievances, they had the point they were stressing at the time, and nobody can blame them for taking the decision they think they wanted to take, and they took.”

Former NBA Akure Branch Chairman, Mr. Ola Dan Olawale had in a CITY LAWYER report given a detailed account of how the boycott decision was taken by Egbe Amofin O’odua.

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AKINTOLA VS AKPATA: ‘HOW EGBE AMOFIN SEALED BOYCOTT PACT,’ BY OLAWALE

RE: CHIEF NIYI AKINTOLA SAN & MR. OLUMIDE AKPATA: MERE WITHDRAWAL OF SUPPORT AND NOT “DISTABILIZATION” OF ADMINISTRATION

I have decided to open my diary for the purpose of setting the record straight. I also wish to drive home the point that we are not cowards that run from their shadows. We are old and bold enough to say the truth as it is in order to shame those who distort the truth for personal gain.

On 7th September, 2019, less than a year to NBA 2020 general election, Egbe Amofin held a general meeting at the Aare Afe Babalola Bar Center Ibadan, Oyo State. One of the items on the meeting agenda was to consider presenting one candidate for the position of NBA president. We had 5 notable lawyers of Yoruba extraction with aspiration to the post then. At the meeting, one of the aspirants stepped down his ambition, leaving Dr. Babatunde Ajibade SAN, Deacon Dele Adesina SAN, Mr. Olumiyiwa Akinboro SAN and a former Chairman of NBA Osogbo branch in the race. The general meeting set up a committee whose terms of reference, among others was to assess the 4 aspirants and present the most suitable to Egbe for endorsement. The adhoc committee saddled with this task consists of all branch chairmen of South Western Nigeria who, of course, were Yorubas. Chief Niyi Akintola SAN was appointed at the general meeting to chair the committee while Dr. Oluwole Akintayo (now a Professor) who was then the chairman of NBA Ibadan branch was to serve as secretary.

Meanwhile, another team was set up with the mandate of reaching out to our learned brothers and colleagues under the umbrella of Mid – Western Bar Forum. The idea was to “activate” the proposal of rotational NBA presidency between the two blocks (sic) whenever it was the turn of Southwest NBA to occupy the seat. The team consisted of elders and revered seniors of Egbe Amofin who were mostly Senior Advocates of Nigeria.

It was at our first committee meeting which held on 12/09/2019 at the same Aare Afe Babalola Bar Center Ibadan that modalities and yardsticks for assessment of aspirants was agreed upon. Such yardsticks included but not limited to years of call of aspirants, involvement and participation in NBA activities, past contributions to development/unity of NBA and its members, manifestos and vision for the Bar, general acceptability of aspirants across all NBA branches in the country etc.

Committee agreed and indeed sent letters to the 4 aspirants, requesting them to send in their curriculum vitae and memorandum, showcasing what put them ahead of others under the yardsticks outlined.

When the committee reconvened few weeks thereafter, it was discovered that only 3 of the aspirants sent in their CVs and memorandum. Dr. Babatunde Ajibade SAN did not send a CV or memo.

After critical consideration by committee members of documents sent in, a consensus candidate was not arrived at. Hence, all branch chairmen present put the issue to vote. Secret ballot was conducted after which Deacon Dele Adesina SAN scored the highest vote.

Amongst branch chairmen present and voting on that day was Olayemi Akangbe of Lagos branch, Charles Ajiboye of Ikeja branch, Dr. Oluwole Akintayo of Ibadan branch, Emmanuel Alade of Abeokuta branch, Omololu Bagbe of Okitipupa branch, Olakanmi Falade of Ado-Ekiti branch, Bode Adeniji of Ondo branch, Oludayo Olorunfemi (my good friend) of Ikere-Ekiti branch and Lanre Okeyinka of Oyo branch. Chairmen of Ife, Ikirun, Iwo, Ilesa, Offa, Ijebu Ode, Ogbomoso were all in attendance and voting. Chief Niyi Akintola SAN who was the committee chairman did not vote.

It was at this meeting consisting of NBA branch chairmen that we made a pact; a resolution for ourselves and as representatives of various branches of the NBA of Yoruba extraction, to join hands in working for the emergence of our endorsed candidate. We agreed to support and work with such person if eventually sworn in as NBA president. We also agreed not to support any other. We agreed not to support any other candidate because at that period in time, information had been received that our brothers under the umbrella of Midwest Forum of the NBA had rebuffed Egbe’s hand of fellowship to work together as one.

The general assembly of Egbe Amofin, at a later general meeting, received and ratified the committee’s report in toto.

Chief Niyi Akintola SAN was later betrayed despite his good motive. The Learned Silk was first betrayed by insiders within the committee. He was also betrayed by those whom the committee’s report did not go down well with. Chief Akintola SAN was betrayed by those who seek favour and crumbs from the administration of Mr. Olumide Akpata.

Despite my closeness to Mr. Olumide Akpata who attended branch activities organised by me as chairman in Akure (he even donated the sum of N1m towards building our Bar Center), I was bound by collective agreement reached by Egbe Amofin. I immediately informed Mr. Akpata of my decision not to support him as NBA president. I never for once put him in doubt of where I stand. No one planned or worked towards “distabilizing” NBA under the presidency of Mr. Olumide Akpata. We merely withdrew our support.

We cannot deny what we did as representatives of those who gave us their mandates to serve as branch chairmen. We cannot deny what we did as members of Egbe Amofin. I, for one, cannot deny what I did in the best interest of the Bar to which I was called about two decades ago.

Above is history. Time is the judge.

Ola Dan Olawale Esq.
Chairman, NBA Akure Branch
2018 – 2020.

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AKPATA: YORUBA LAWYERS GROUP TACKLES AKINTOLA

A group of Yoruba lawyers under the aegis of Yoruba Lawyers Association of Nigeria (YOLAN) has berated the Deputy Leader of Egbe Amofin O’odua, Chief Adeniyi Akintola SAN for describing the immediate past Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, Mr. Olumide Akpata as a “boy.”

In a statement signed by its President, Mr. Oladotun Hassan, it stated that “We the Yoruba Lawyers Association of Nigeria distance other well meaning Yoruba Lawyes from any issues that is capable of dividing our noble organization – NBA along pessimistic ethnic lines, most dangerously to end (sic) the Bar in abyss to say the least.”

The group also expressed dissatisfaction at the description of some Egbe Amofin members as “soro soke boys and girls,” noting that “We are equally not happy with the reference to describing legal practitioners from the Yoruba extractions that attended the NBA AGC 2022 as “Soro Soke Boys and Girls.” It is absolutely uncalled for and most demeaning.”

Below is the full text of the statement made available to CITY LAWYER.

Press Release

29th August, 2022.

YOLAN CARPET EGBE AMOFIN OVER AKPATA’S FEUD: REITERATES YORUBA LAWYERS MAXIMUM SUPPORT

The leadership and members of the Yoruba Lawyers Association of Nigeria (YOLAN) aka Yoruba Council of Lawyers Worldwide (Igbimo Apapo Agbejoro Yoruba Lagbaye) – under the auspices of the Yoruba Council Worldwide laconically condemn in its entirety the ethnic bigotry statement on the withdrawal of Yoruba Lawyer’s supports under the Egbe Amofin Oodua Group on the non-attendance of the NBA AGC 2022 and the leadership Mr. Olumide Akpata, the Immediate past President of the Nigerian Bar Association(NBA); following the ongoing news trend credited to Chief Adeniyi Akintola SAN thus “When that boy Akpata came on board, we the Yoruba leaders, the Egbe Amofin, we took the unified position that we will not dignify that boy with our presence at any of his Bar gathering. Unfortunately, some of our people who took that decision alongside with us betrayed that trust”.

“The Deputy Leader of Egbe Amofin O’odua, Chief Adeniyi Akintola SAN has said that Body of Benchers Chairman, Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN was privy to a pact to boycott Nigerian Bar Association activities while the immediate past NBA President, Mr. Olumide Akpata held the reins”.

We frowned at the height of crudity, injustice and total rejection of Mr. Olumide Akpata by the Yoruba Leaders under the aegis of the Egbe Amofin Oodua: a noble group of Omoluabi – virtuous wise men of thought.

Wherein according to the deputy leader, Chief Adeniyi Akintola SAN that him alongside Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN, Chairman, Body of Benchers (BoB) has unequivocally vowed never to have anything do with Olumide Akpata led NBA leadership is extremely embarrassing and calculated to be myopic, personal vendetta and self-centred headless struggle.

We are equally not happy with the reference to describing legal practitioners from the Yoruba extractions that attended the NBA AGC 2022 as “Soro Soke Boys and Girls ” is absolutely uncalled for and most demeaning.

Yoruba are more wiser when it comes to fighting a collective battle rather than getting all of us involved in a matter of public values and mutual respect for the rule of law.

We the Yoruba Lawyers Association of Nigeria distance other well meaning Yoruba Lawyes from any issues that is capable of dividing our noble organization- NBA along pessimistic ethnic lines, most dangerously to end the Bar in abyss to say the least.

NBA is one, hence all Lawyers must embrace the Association with common love, peace and unity under any leadership irrespective of religion nor ethnic colouration, but must act collectively on the principle of equitable justice, fairness and absolute justice.

We therefore reiterates YOLAN support and pass a vote of confidence on Olumide Akpata past led NBA leadership that just bowed out for ensuring succinct delivery of his campaign promises of a “Greater Bold Bar”.

E-Signed:

Aare Oladotun Hassan,
President, Yoruba Lawyers Association of Nigeria (YOLAN)

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‘OLANIPEKUN, BODY OF BENCHERS CHAIR PRIVY TO PACT TO BOYCOTT NBA,’ SAYS AKINTOLA

• SAYS ‘SORO SOKE BOYS AND GIRLS’ BETRAYED PACT

The Deputy Leader of Egbe Amofin O’odua, Chief Adeniyi Akintola SAN has said that Body of Benchers Chairman, Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN was privy to a pact to boycott Nigerian Bar Association activities while the immediate past NBA President, Mr. Olumide Akpata held the reins.

Responding to the allegation that some NBA Annual General Conference (AGC) delegates stole conference bags and phones during the fracas that attended distribution of conference materials, Akintola also stated that “Chief Olanipekun and I have religiously kept to that position,” accusing some Egbe Amofin members who he called “Soro Soke boys and girls” of betraying the pact.

Akintola, who was speaking in an interview on FRESH 105.9 FM, Ibadan, also hinted that some NBA Branches were given specific directions on what to do at the AGC, adding that it was unclear whether they followed the instructions.

CITY LAWYER recalls that the AGC held against the backdrop of the demand by NBA for Olanipekun to recuse himself as the Chairman of the Body of Benchers over the Ms. Kunbi Ogunde professional misconduct saga. Ogunde is a Partner in Wole Olanipekun & Co.

Though NBA had urged the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) to punish the partners in the firm if found complicit in the debacle, the committee had in an initial review stated that it was not interested in probing the partners of the law firm.

Said Akintola: “Let me take the last question first. Felt very very sad about what happened. And we saw it coming. Ademola (Babalola) is here. When that boy Akpata came on board, we the Yoruba leaders, the Efgbe Amofin, we took the unified position that we will not dignify that boy with our presence at any of his Bar gathering. Unfortunately, some of our people who took that decision alongside with us betrayed that trust.

“Coming from the background that I have, being a progressive, when I take a decision, when I say this is what I am going to do, even at the risk of my life, I stick to that.

“We took that decision in Ibadan here. Chief (Wole) Olanipekun happened to be the Leader of Egbe Amofin in Nigeria. I happen to be his Deputy. And we took that decision. Chief Olanipekun and I have religiously kept to that position. But unfortunately, some of our boys and girls felt otherwise because they wanted to be in office – one office or the other.”

Continuing, Akintola said: “I never attended the meeting (AGC) because I said I will never dignify him with my presence. Of course, the NBA Oyo, Ogbomosho came to me for my support before going. And we told them what to do and what not to do. But the question is, when they get there, what they do? We don’t know.”

Olanipekun is yet to speak on Akintola’s statement.

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  • EDITOR'S CHOICE
  • Apr 19, 2021
  • 4
  • Comments Off on JUSUN STRIKE: ANXIETY, AS NBA IKEJA BOYCOTTS LAGOS BRANCHES’ PARLEY WITH SANWO-OLU TOMORROW

JUSUN STRIKE: ANXIETY, AS NBA IKEJA BOYCOTTS LAGOS BRANCHES’ PARLEY WITH SANWO-OLU TOMORROW

  • LAGOS, BADAGRY, EPE AND IKORODU BRANCHES TO ATTEND

  • CONFUSION OVER PARTICIPATION OF BRANCH MEMBERS

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja Branch has vowed to boycott a meeting of all Lagos branches with Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu scheduled for “Lagos House,” Marina tomorrow.

In a telephone interview with CITY LAWYER, NBA Ikeja Branch Chairman, Mr. Batholomew Aguegbodo said: “I can tell you for free that I will not be there. We complied with the NBA President’s directive by embarking on our protest march today in line with our tradition as Tiger Branch. I tried to move the other branches to join us today but they gave sundry reasons on why it is impossible for them to do so. I respect their position. We shall return to the streets on Monday if by then the State Governors had not complied with JUSUN’s demand.”

However, the four other branches comprising Lagos, Badagry, Epe and Ikorodu will meet with the Governor tomorrow by 10:30 am. CITY LAWYER gathered that the branch chairmen may have agreed to converge on “Lagos House” by 10 am prior to the meeting with the Sanwo-Olu. The meeting is being facilitated by former Bar Leader and Lagos State Attorney-General & Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN.

While it was gathered that only three members from each branch would be permitted to go into the meeting with the Governor, it was unclear at press time whether branch members would be allowed to mass around the premises. This comes against the backdrop of conflicting signals from the branches regarding the level of participation of their members.

While Lagos Branch may have restricted participation to the official three-man delegation and very senior lawyers who may insist on attending, Epe and Ikorodu branch chairmen told CITY LAWYER that all their members who wish to attend have been fully mobilized to storm “Lagos House” in their numbers.

According to Mr. Ademola Koko, NBA Epe Branch Chairman, “Everybody is coming. We have mobilized all our members. We are coming in three buses which we have hired.”

This was echoed by NBA Ikorodu Branch Chairman, Mr. Abimbola Ojedokun who told CITY LAWYER that “We are going with our members. All those who are available will accompany us on the visit.”

The branches may have however conceded to shun display of placards so as not to “embarrass” the Governor. A source told CITY LAWYER that while Epe Branch has agreed to display its banners at the Epe High Court, Badagry Branch may have directed its members to display their banners at the Lagos High Court, Igbosere.

In a press statement personally signed by the NBA President, Mr. Olumide Akpata, the association had at the weekend asked all NBA branches “to effectively mobilize their members and pay visits to their respective State Governors at the Government Houses on Monday, 19th April 2021 to press home the demand for implementation of financial autonomy for the Judiciary. At the visit, NBA Branches in each State are to present a joint written demand to their State Governor requesting full compliance with existing legislative instruments and court judgments on the financial autonomy of the Judiciary.”

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WE WILL BOYCOTT COURTS SOON IF…, WARNS USORO

  • PUBLIC PROTEST: FALANA STORMS ABA

Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, Mr. Paul Usoro SAN has warned that lawyers may soon embark on a boycott of the courts if judges of the Court of Appeal and Nasarawa Area Court are not freed by their kidnappers.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of this year’s Annual Conference of the NBA Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) also tagged “revival” conference, Usoro said lawyers would soon have no option than to shun the courts to press their demand for release of the judicial officers.

His words: “We are the ones to speak for the judiciary; they do not have a voice. It behoves us (NBA) to speak on their behalf. A couple of them very very sadly have been kidnapped in recent days. You wouldn’t see any press release from the judiciary because they do not have a voice.

“It is we – the Nigerian Bar Association – that will fight for them, which will tell the authority that they have to take certain steps. If it gets to the extreme and – as we did not too long ago – we decide that we are going to boycott the courts to make a point, that is what we lawyers are for. If we are not united it becomes difficult for us to achieve. That is something I would like all of us to bear in mind.”

He noted that globally, lawyers are “recognized as the voice of the voiceless,” adding that “If you do not defend them, nobody will.”

It is recalled that Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme of the Benin Division of Court of Appeal and Honorable Likita Ewa, a judge of an Area Court in Nasarawa State were kidnapped recently and are still in the kidnappers’ den.

Usoro urged members of the Aba Branch of the NBA to close ranks and resolve the crises rocking the branch, noting that “This is very important as without being united, it is very easy for people to further divide us. Our strength lies in our unity.”

Commending the SPIDEL leadership and the Abia State Government for its “magnanimity,” the NBA President also thanked the judiciary for attending the event in large numbers “particularly in these dangerous times when simply being seen with lawyers could be misconstrued.” He prayed God to give them the “wisdom to dispense justice without fear or favour.”

In his keynote address, Attorney General & Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami SAN commended the NBA for using the law “as an instrument of social change.”

Saying that SPIDEL is facilitating its core objective of promoting public interest by organizing the conference, Malami who was represented by Mr. Aikomo Abiodun, his Special Assistant on Anti-corruption & Contracts Implementation, also commended SPIDEL Chairman, Dr. Paul Ananaba SAN and his team for hosting the highly successful conference.

On his part, Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Mr. Tony Ojukwu noted that “Our being human would be incomplete without enjoying these rights,” pointing at banditry, communal clashes, insurgency, kidnapping, farmers/herders crises, weak electoral system, unemployment, decayed infrastructure, poverty, and violation of rights by state actors as some of the factors that threaten enjoyment of human rights.

Represented by Mr. Olaniyi Omodara, the NHRC chieftain described the theme of the conference as “well thought out,” adding that the NBA and especially SPIDEL “is an important partner” in the commission’s quest to reform the regime of rights available to Nigerians.

The opening ceremony was followed by two technical sessions. The session on “Public interest lawyering: Global best practices and development” was chaired by Abia State Chief Judge, Justice Onuoha Ogwe. Leading human rights strategist, Dr. Sam Amadi was the lead speaker.

The session on “Executive orders as tools of governance – Prospects and challenges” drew the curtains on the day’s events. While the sessionwas chaired by Mr. Israel Usman, the lead speaker was Dr. Chukwudi Odoeme, Head of Legal Unit, Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC). The panelists included former NBA General Secretary, Mr. Emeka Obegolu; former NBA Treasurer Joyce Oduah; former member of NBA Criminal Justice Reform Committee, Mr. Emeka Nwadioke and senior lawyer Udochi Iheanacho.

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING

MR. ABUBAKAR ALIYU
Director General, Legal Aid Council of Nigeria
We have tried as much as possible to collaborate and cooperate with NBA especially SPIDEL to promote human rights. There is nothing more important than assisting indigent Nigerian to gain access to justice.

The kind of pleasure I derive from obtaining ordinary bail for somebody who has stayed five years in prison awaiting trial is indescribable. I commend SPIDEL for the work it is doing. I am always participating in SPIDEL activities, and will continue to collaborate with SPIDEL.

OLUMUYIWA AKINBORO SAN
Former NBA General Secretary
This is one of the best and most packed conferences I have ever attended. There are benefits that come by virtue of pro bono work. If one is to wait for that juicy brief, one may wait for a long time. However, by going to court and representing indigent clients, a lawyer may gain more experience and confidence. Everyday we go to court, we get better.

There is nothing that gives more satisfaction than helping another person. It is recalled that the Late Chief Gani Fawehinmi SAN and Mr. Femi Falana SAN became very popular through their public interest litigation work. You invariably end up being celebrated. I want to encourage us to take up the challenge of lawyering in the public interest.

DR. PAUL ANANABA SAN
SPIDEL Chairman
Nigeria is at a transformational stage; only public interest and pro people policies as well as development law initiatives is needed to provide credible and enabling environment for sustainable results. This need and service to the people are what SPIDEL stands for; NBA’s link and commitment to the rule of law and justice.

Through interactions on these issues at this conference, SPIDEL will be strengthened and positioned to lead NBA’s mandate as the watcher of government’s policies, governance framework, citizenship issues and so on. SPIDEL is ready to give urgency to activities that will reverse governance, administrative and legal failure to alleviate the suffering of the maases.

MR. IKEAZOR AKARAIWE
Chairman, Conference Planning Committee
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Section on Public Interest and Development Law is arguably the most important section of the NBA, the other sections being Section on Legal Practice and Section on Business Law. SPIDEL proposes a regime of public interest and development awareness. Public interest and development advocacy and litigation is why Nigeria escaped the long night of military dictatorship. This conference of SPIDEL is coming at a time when democratic fascism is on the rise and corruption has rendered development all but comatose.

The gains of this conference must be that every lawyer realizes that our priesthood in the temple of justice of necessity clothes us with the toga of development warriors. We must use the courts and responsible social media usage to advance the interest of the public and development in Nigeria. We can do no less.

The conference continues today with several technical sessions including the eagerly anticipated session on public protest law which has firebrand social crusader, Mr. Femi Falana SAN as the lead speaker.

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