By Innocent Anaba & Abdulwahab  Abdulah
Weekend’s resolution by the Yoruba Lawyers’ Forum, Egbe Amofin O’Odua to boycott the Kaduna  delegates conference of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, to elect a new executive for the association, has pitched it against lawyers from the Northern part of the country, who have insisted that it is either Kaduna or no election.

While Egbe Amofin O’Odua at its meeting in the country home of  the former Secretary  of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Deacon Dele Adesina, SAN, in Ilawe-Ekiti, Ekiti State, discussed issued relating to how to move the legal profession forward, among others. The group said though it holds nothing against the North, but that it would not be wise to expose over 10,000 lawyers who will be attending the conference to elect new leadership to danger.

The lawyers said the NBA should instead consider other states less prone to bomb attacks for its conference.

But lawyers from the North would not hear anything of such. They insisted on Kaduna or no where else.

Alhaji Ibrahim Jam-Jam, who voiced North’s opposition to any plan to move the venue away from Kaduna, noted that even in the height of militancy in the Niger Delta region in 2006, lawyers converged in Port Harcourt, Rivers State for a memorable annual conference, where Mr Olisa Agbokoba, SAN was elected the President of the Association.

The Yoruba Lawyers’ Forum said the security challenges facing the country could  be ignored, insisting that the NBA should instead consider other states less prone to bomb attacks.

It was also said that more branches should be mobilised ahead of the NBA National Executive Council, NEC meeting scheduled for May 23 to 24 in Lokoja, Kogi State capital.

Secretary of the group, Mr Ranti Ajeleti, said, “We reviewed the position of law in Nigeria and in Western Nigeria in particular, that is the Common Law. We also discussed about the advancement of the legal profession in Nigeria and the West.

“As regards the delegates conference being proposed to hold in Kaduna,  it has not been fixed. The group said that with the security challenges in Kaduna, that it will amount to an invitation to mass suicide for a gathering of lawyers of about 10,000 in black suits to assemble in any part of the core North now where we have bombings and security challenges.

“We did advice that the NEC meeting of the bar should consider a much more fairly secure place. We suggested Ilorin or Lokoja, because of what is happening in Kaduna, Abuja, Borno, Yobe, Kano. We don’t want to commit mass suicide. Whoever is responsible for the bombings will score a good point by the fact that they were able to eliminate many lawyers, which could affect the current security situation in the country. We don’t want that,” he added.

Jam-Jam, who spoke to Vanguard Law and Human Rights on  the group’s decision said, “in 2006, the militants were very active in the Niger Delta region, we had a conference in Port-harcourt and there was no incident. In fact, the 2006 conference was more thrilling than that of 2011.

“Secondly, it is very sad that a person who calls himself learned could not read between the line as to whether it was truly only Boko Haram that is carrying out all the bombings. I want to assure those who are bent on ethnicising and sectionalising  the NBA, that some of us will be ready for them.

If they want the NBA to be broken up, we are ready for that, even if they want Nigeria to break-up, we are ready for that. We are not going to move to any other place for the delegates conference. We are going to hold it in Kaduna. If the South West bar refuses to attend the conference, it is nobody’s problem but theirs,” he added.

In his own view, a senior member of the Bar, Malam Yusuf Ali, SAN, said, “We have to be very careful about this issue. The decision to move the conference to Kaduna was taken at the National Executive Committee (NEC) level of the NBA. So, if anybody or group of individuals feel uncomfortable about the decision, the proper channel is for them to return to the same NEC and get the issue resolved.

“So, if any member had issue with the conference venue they have to resolve it properly. There is no doubt that members have the right to express their views or reservation about what they feel about their safety and security. In my own opinion, I believe it will be better to get back to the NEC rather than discussing the matter on the pages of the newspapers.

“Those who have objection to the venue have genuine reasons and those who said the conference be held there have their own right, but I do not insinuate about what would happen or what will not happen. Like I said, the proper channel of conversation is very important and it should be followed.

“We should stop reading a South-North agenda or meaning into what is purely the Bar affairs. This will not take us anywhere or help resolve the issue.” Yusuf said.

Meanwhile, inside sources in the NBA and some bar elders, who spoke to Vanguard Law, noted that the Lokoja NEC may well resolve the matter.

But some Northern lawyers, who spoke on condition of anonymity, noted that subjecting the issue of venue for the delegates election was not an issue NEC should deliberate upon, but modalities for the delegates conference.