Embattled incumbent Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Treasurer, Caroline Ladidi Anze-Bishop has yet another hurdle to cross in her quest for the coveted position of NBA General Secretary as a second petition has been slammed on her by another lawyer seeking her disqualification from the race.

CITY LAWYER had in an exclusive report stated how Falana and Falana Chambers had petitioned the ECNBA urging it to disqualify Anze-Bishop. The letter was signed by its Head of Chambers, Mr. Samuel Ogala who noted that he was a bonafide member of NBA Abuja Branch.

Meanwhile, the ECNBA has forwarded the latest petition to Anze-Bishop while again summoning her to a meeting tomorrow as earlier scheduled to answer to the petitions.

Unlike the previous petition which was dated 22nd April, 2024, the latest petition is dated 24th April, 2024 and signed by one Musa Tijjani of U. M. Abdulrahman & Co (Amazon Law Firm), an Abuja based law firm. However, the petition is on all fours with the previous petition save for very minor details.

While Ogala indicated that he is a member of NBA Abuja Branch, the latest petitioner was silent on his branch membership. Also, while Ogala noted that he personally wrote to the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to obtain information on the embattled National Treasurer, Tijjani merely referenced the NSCDC correspondence without claiming authorship.

Citing Section 9(3)(b) of the NBA Constitution, he stated that one of the requirements for aspirants to the post of NBA General Secretary is that they must be in full-time private practice.

His words: “Therefore, I write this petition to bring to your attention that a prospective candidate for the office of the General Secretary in the forthcoming NBA Elections by name CAROLINE LADIDI ANZE-BISHOP is not in full time practice, contrary to the requirement of the NBA Constitution,”

Continuing, he wrote: “She is an officer of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC). Presently, she is serving in the Plateau State Command of the Corp. This is a fact known to so many lawyers, both within Plateau State and beyond.”

He stated that a letter was written to the corps to provide information on Anze-Bishop “wherein it was confirmed that the NSCDC holds the information requested regarding CAROLINE LADIDI ANZE-BISHOP.”

He stated that the NSCDC letter “has confirmed that CAROLINE LADIDI ANZE-BISHOP is a staff of the NSCDC, given that they have the required information but cannot release them for the reasons stated.”

The senior lawyer concluded that “In light of all the above facts, I strongly believe that CAROLINE LADIDI ANZE-BISHOP is not qualified to aspire to contest for the office of the General Secretary of the NBA, since she is not in full time private legal practice, which is clearly against the spirit and letters of the NBA Constitution.”

A source who is familiar with the matter said that the latest petition may not be unconnected with the fact that the petition from Falana and Falana Chambers bore an expired NBA Stamp which may raise issues as to the validity of the petition.

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