Last week, I provided an update on the efforts being made by the @NigBarAssoc towards securing the release of our colleague, Mr. Inibehe Effiong, who was remanded in custody on the order of the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State on account of alleged contemptuous conduct in court.
Unfortunately, attempts to secure Mr. Effiong’s release through sustained engagements at different levels have been unsuccessful with the Chief Judge indicating that she was unwilling or unable to further entertain the matter.
In the circumstance, the NBA is left with no choice but to work on an appeal against the decision of Her Lordship, and I have instructed the NBA team to work with Mr. Effiong on an immediate appeal.
I received with great concern the news of the detention of one of our members, @InibeheEffiong, at a correctional facility in Akwa Ibom State, on account of what transpired during proceedings in the court of the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State.
Since receiving the news, I have been in touch with the Chairman of the NBA Uyo Branch who has mobilised his team to look into & address this. This morning, I also mandated the NBA 1st Vice President to visit Uyo immediately to join ongoing efforts & ensure Mr. Effiong's release.
The NBA is therefore on top of this, and I am confident that Mr. Effiong will regain his freedom shortly.
On behalf of the @NigBarAssoc, I heartily welcome all of you "new wigs" who were admitted to the Nigerian Bar today. Unfortunately, I was not physically present to welcome you and to join in your celebration due to prior commitments. Please accept my hearty congratulations.
From day one, the @NigBarAssoc under my administration made the welfare and wellbeing of lawyers, especially the young lawyers, the focal point of our agenda and you have my assurance that your set will not be different.
I acknowledge that you are joining the profession at a difficult time when things look bleak and at a time when the high ethical standards for which the profession was once known seem to have been eroded to the point that the profession looks almost unrecognisable.
On 9th March 2022, I issued a Statement unequivocally condemning the reaction of H.E. Engr. Dave Umahi, the Governor of Ebonyi State to the Judgment of the FHC Abuja which ordered him and his Deputy to vacate office. I also demanded an apology and a retraction of the comments.
Following that Statement, H.E. Engr. Umahi made extensive efforts to reach me and in the course of our conversation, I reiterated that the NBA has no interest in the case other than to ensure that the sanctity of the judicial system is protected & the rule of law respected.
In line with our demands, H.E. Engr. Umahi addressed a cross section of Ebonyi State citizens, where he unreservedly apologised for his comments, clarified his intentions and very importantly too, called for calm while urging his people to refrain from denigrating the Judiciary.
In fulfillment of one of my campaign promises to NBA Members, the NBA-NEC last week approved the establishment of the NBA Stabilisation Fund where we have already saved up & set aside N1billion, with a commitment to increase it to a minimum of N1.5billion, before we leave office.
The fund, to be managed by subject matter experts, will invest in a portfolio of assets that will generate steady returns for the @NigBarAssoc over time.
I made a similar pledge to address access to, and availability of, finance for lawyers which is key to improving their law practices, increasing revenue generation for lawyers, and overall bettering their professional lives. As I have always said, law is a business.
The @NigBarAssoc ("NBA") received with grave concern the news of the unlawful siege on the Abuja residence of a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Honourable Justice Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili, last night by officers of one or more of the Nigerian security agencies.
Almost 24 hours later, information concerning the basis of the siege remains hazy and the subject of speculation, apart from reports that the invasion was pursuant to a search warrant issued by a Magistrate Court in Abuja, which search warrant has now been revoked.
The Honourable AGF under whose office the team that purportedly carried out the raid is allegedly domiciled has also reportedly denounced the team, which implies that the residence of the second most senior judicial officer in Nigeria was raided by rogue security agencies...