NBA: Why new leadership must focus on integrity and independence

The Chairman, NBA Ikere Ekiti branch, Bunmi Olugbade has thrown up issues on the development of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) under a new administration and why the new leadership should focus on

Speaking about the new leadership of the association inaugurated this week at the on-going Annual General Conference (AGC), Olugbade called for the restoration of integrity in the Nigerian bar, which according to him is the biggest task before the newly elected leaders.

“One of the primary aims and objectives of the Association is the maintenance and defence of the integrity and independence of the Bar and the Judiciary in Nigeria, as well as the promotion and protection of the principles of the rule of law and respect for and enforcement of fundamental rights, human rights, human rights and the people’s rights,” he stated.

He noted that the last five years had seen the erosion of the existential objectives and fundamental principles of the Association, which he claimed had been so shamelessly compromised.

“It is arguable if the NBA has not lost its relevance to its members and the Nation at large. No wonder, all the five candidates who contested the office of the President of the Association in the July 2014 election openly canvassed a change of direction for the Association. The truth is that what the NBA needs today is not just a cosmetic change but a fundamental transformation from its present alienated position from its members and its timid, docile and sometimes escapist approach to critical national issues.

“The new executive must restore and secure the integrity and independence of the Bar by putting a definite stop to soliciting for and receiving money in form of grants, donations or gifts from governments both at the State and Federal levels,” Olugbade urged.

He spoke of incidents where Local Organising Committees were seen fighting over approved funds for National Executive Committee Meetings donated by State Governors, as it had become the practice to seek and obtain monies from state governments to host the quarterly NBA  (NEC) meetings.

“This must stop,” he cautioned “A dependence on fat envelopes from politically exposed persons and government patronage is not the best for the Association, he who pays the piper dictates the tune. NBA has become a piper that stands face to face with external interferences and possible dictations. The consequence of course, is the painful loss of the voice and dynamism of the Bar as witnessed in recent times,”

The branch Chair reiterated that it was the responsibility of the NBA under its constitution to host its quarterly meetings, independent of external funds. This he said is a recent practice that has eroded the integrity of the Bar. “hence this my humble submission that the practice of soliciting for and collecting money from governments to host NEC meetings amounts to corrupt practice on the part of the NBA leadership.”

He continued with a recent reference from Governor Adams Oshiomole who at an NBA NEC meeting in Bayelsa State, had made the following statement regarding the NBA’s position on the crisis that rocked the Governors’ Forum.

“I watched and listened to the President of the Nigerian Bar Association say in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State that the Governors’ Forum should be discarded. I think that conclusion by the NBA President was influenced by the factor of location, the environment and the overall circumstances known and unknown, must have led to a President of the bar making such a call. A call to freeze the rights of Governors to associate, borders on corrupt practice.” — Gov. Oshiomhole

Olugbade further spoke about the expectations of Nigerian citizens from the NBA – as a guardian of democracy and as protector and defender of the Rule of Law. He called for urgent transformational focus by the new leadership, with specific regard to the issue of electronic voting universal lawyers suffrage. He said, “The delegate system has been highly abused, totally misused and outrightly corrupted and must be stopped forthwith.”

“How does one explain an electoral process in which a candidate is notified of his disqualification a few hours to the election proper when the NBA Constitution provides for 24hrs for such notice,” he queried rhetorically.

“The welfare of members of the Bar, particularly junior and young members must occupy the priority and attention of the new leadership, if this doesn’t happen, the unity of the Association will be endangered in the near future,” he cautioned with a note of finality.