DOKO

SENIOR ADVOCATE TACKLES ECNBA OVER DISQUALIFICATION OF VP ASPIRANT

A senior lawyer, Mr. Mohammed Ndayako, SAN has disagreed with the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) over its disqualification of NBA First Vice President aspirant, Mr. Muhammad Idris Doko from contesting the forthcoming NBA National Officers election.

Doko was disqualified from participating in the election because “your Seconder being a member of a political party in Nigeria is not qualified like you in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.” Ndayako is Doko’s seconder.

But in a response to the disqualification made available to CITY LAWYER, Ndayako described the turn of events as “rather unfortunate,” arguing that membership of political party was never raised as an issue in the nomination form.

He also berated the electoral committee for not contacting him to provide evidence of his membership of the NBA National Executive Committee (NBA-NEC), adding that his branch Executive Committee was also not contacted to provide the information.

His words: “This is rather unfortunate. I commend M D Idris for taking this decision in a sportsmanship way.

“However, for the records, I was one of the nominators of M. D. Idris for the position of 1st Vice President of NBA, filled and submitted the form by ECNBA. There was no where in the form where membership of political party was raised.

“I was the Chairman of NBA Minna branch between June, 2016 to June, 2018.

“I was the NEC Rep, member, the only one from Minna branch, between June, 2018 to June, 2020.

“Evidence of membership of NEC can easily be found in the minutes of NEC meetings. Meanwhile, I was never contacted to provide my Evidence of NEC membership, which I stated the relevant period in the form.

“My branch EXCO were not also contacted on my membership of NBA (NEC) between 2018 and 2020.

“I am not yet aware of any law, rule, guidelines of NBA placing restrictions on Members of the Bar from belonging to or actively participating in politics, when political office holders are considered worthy of being made Members of Body of Benchers.”

He urged Doko not to relent in his quest, adding that “we shall continue to support you in your future endeavors, particularly, in NBA politics.”

It was unclear at press time whether Doko plans to appeal his disqualification. The NBA Election is scheduled to hold on July 16, 2022.

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ECNBA HAMMERS 3 NBA VP ASPIRANTS, AKPATA SETS UP APPEALS C’TES

At least three aspirants vying for the posts of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) First and Second Vice President have been disqualified from contesting the forthcoming NBA Elections.

CITY LAWYER gathered that several reasons were given by the Electoral Committee of the NBA (ECNBA) from bringing its hammer down on the aspirants.

Meanwhile, NBA President, Mr. Olumide Akpata has set up both national and branch appeals committees to resolve appeals that may arise from disqualification of the aspirants.

The nine-member NBA 2022 National Election Appeals Committee (NNEACO) has renowned chartered arbitrator Funmi Roberts as Chairperson with Mr. Austin Ajineh of NBA Warri Branch as Secretary. 

Three NBA 2022 Branch Election Appeals Committees were also established for the three zones, namely East, West and North.

However, at least one aspirant has kicked against his disqualification. In a trending post on his dedicated WhatsApp platform, Mr. Muhammad Idris Doko of NBA Lagos Branch challenged his disqualification, saying the ECNBA decision “came to me as a rude shock.”

Giving more details on his disqualification, he wrote: “The reason for this is that one of my nominators, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, is a member of a political party and into active politics. In addition to that, the ECNBA also claimed they could not find evidence of his membership of the National Executive Committee.

“This has come to me as a rude shock but I feel i owe you all a duty to inform you of the present state of things. Your unflinching support over the past few weeks has motivated me so much on this journey and I am forever indebted to you all.”

He vowed to “consider the available options open to me which includes appealing the decision of the ECNBA,” while urging his supporters to “remain calm and steadfast in your support for this project and I promise to inform you of any developments.”

CITY LAWYER gathered that the ECNBA hammer fell on the aspirant as his seconder, Mr. Mohammed Nadayako SAN is a card-carrying member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The aspirants were given seven days to appeal the ECNBA decision. In an ECNBA disqualification notice sighted by CITY LAWYER, it wrote: “PLEASE NOTE that by virtue of Part IX, Second Schedule of the Constitution you can appeal to the Election Appeal Committee at e lectionappeal@nigerianbar.org.ng wihtin seven days of the communication of this decision to you.” 

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