By Dayo Benson &  Abdulwahab  Abdulah

A presidential candidate in the coming Nigerian Bar Association, (NBA), Mr. Dele Adesina, SAN, has enunciated a nine-point agenda he intends to implement if elected the association’s president.

*Oladele Adesina

Adesina who described himself as a veteran in NBA activities said the association under his leadership would fight impunity, arbitrariness, high handedness and misuse of power.

The one time secretary general of the NBA also vowed to uphold high standard of professional conduct and responsibility as well as the rule of law.

Speaking on his plans to elevate the Bar from what is presently obtained, Adesina said rule of law would form the bastion in which his administration will rest and that impunity will have no place at all.

The lawyer who said where the Rule of Law operated at its maximum capacity, everybody is under the law, noted the rule of law will be in play rather than the rule of man.

”The Nigerian Bar Association under my leadership shall be bold and courageous.  The Bar shall commend when it is necessary to commend, and condemn when circumstances call for condemnation.  The NBA shall vigorously and demonstrably defend the oppressed, the abused, the cheated, the weak and the poor in the society.
”The Bar under my leadership shall wage sustained war against impunity, arbitrariness, high hardiness, mis-governance, misuse and abuse of power and injustice in all ramification and shall play a dominant role in the affairs of the Nation.

”To this end, the NBA shall re-invigorate its campaign for and promotion of pro bono, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Public interest litigation and pursue a deliberate policy for sustained campaign of maintenance of law and order.” He added.

Adesina emphasized that the administration of Justice committee  would be reactivated and operational if elected.

”The Nigerian Bar Association in collaboration with the office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria shall also establish a functional Administration of Justice Commission at the National level.

He also promised that the Nigerian Bar Association shall play active role in public interest issues such as Prison decongestion, Prison and Penal Reform, Police Reform, Pre-trial Justice and Detention, Child Rights, Violence against Women, Electoral Reform and Process, and Security.

He said further: “In our quest to defend democracy in our land, to defend the rights and liberties of the Nigerian people and enthrone law and order, the Nigerian Bar Association under my watch shall be guided by the principle that Lawyers are nation builders and as such, the lawyers in Nigeria have a duty to move the Nigeria society “from tradition to modernity, from authoritarianism to democracy and from intellectual slavery to liberty”.