Protocols;
“A Happy End cannot come in the middle of the story”- William Shakespare’
Today is an end of an era and a beginning of another one in the life of our cherished association.
To this end, man as a catalyst in the world of transitions must be strengthened by the truism of the Shakespearian saying that “When shifts and transitions in life shake you to the core, see that as a sign of the greatness that’s about to occur”. Nevertheless, our transition began with the dream and vision to give birth to a peaceful and great Bar. Can I ask this question, did we enjoy peace of mind during this outgoing executive? I am aware it will be a resounding affirmative response.
It is a journey that imbued with courage to actualize a great vision as the late sage – Obafemi Awolowo of the blessed memory would say in his Allocotus – “In short , I have always fought for what I believe , without relent and regardless of consequences to myself. In the result I have rendered to Nigeria and to Africa services, which historians will regard as imperishable. Naturally, in the course of my long political activities, I have attracted to myself a sizeable crop of detractors and adversaries. Similarly, I have in my time known both setbacks and triumphs; and have met both with equal mind’’. “This is as it should be. Peter, NOT Peter the Apostle; but Peter, the hero of Hugh Walpole’s novel, FORTITUDE, said”: “it isn’t life that matters but the courage you bring into it.”
From the birth to berth, Ladies, and Gentlemen, and forgoing this far, we embraced the RULE OF LAW as a compass of our voyage on which foundation this great association is built and the source in which our strength is drawn. We came in at a critical point in the history of our nation, and at the times when the Bar would be needed to play a vital role in redeeming the nation from chaos and anarchy. First, we observed and identified that the criminal justice administration posed a challenge both in the understanding and the implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015. It was so obvious that the branch as a stakeholder in this sector must be fully equipped to play its significant role. To this end, we approached the British Council – Rule of Law and Anti-corruption (RoLAC) for partnership. Our relationship dates back to August 2019 has unprecedented benefits to the members, the sizable numbers of which had benefitted from workshops and training on the implementation of ACJA 2015 and Professional Ethics accompanying with stipend cash transfers that sometimes come when it matters most.
Flowing from this, Ladies and Gentlemen, was the creation of Police Duty Solicitors Scheme (PDSS) set up by this administration as the platform in providing pre-trial’s pro bo no services for the suspects at our police stations within Bwari jurisdiction. Our members did not only benefit from the periodic training from RoLAC but also provided veritable platform for the branch, its members to engage various intervention in this regard to the suspects, the police community and the society at large. With brief but relevant digression, I cannot forget easily my leadership intervention in the abduction of our colleague, Mr. Benson Aigboije who is now a financial member of this great branch, sometimes in August 2019 and various interventions thereafter. I must stress that singular intervention in rescuing our colleague from the hands of the gestapo’s police at Kabusa and their ally in Lagos had drawn great attention from the members of the public to the branch and consequentially promoted the branch in an unprecedented dimension as a branch for the oppressed.
Readily coming to mind was the operation of the mobile courts in the trial of those who suspected to have breached the Quarantine Act and Covid 19 Protocols, during the government imposed lockdown. We swung into the action immediately we observed that (i) the Defendants tried for the offence were without legal representation (ii) no platform was created by the government for the provision of the legal aids service to the defendant and NBA was not afforded the opportunity to provide same. ( iii) lawyers were not included in ‘essential list’ to render legal services during the lockdown, etc. The branch spearheaded this cause and did engage the parties concerned ensuring that those issues were addressed. This created opportunity for our members and volunteers under the PDSS Scheme to intervene and provided needed legal aid assistance to the defendants before the mobile courts.
Be that as it may, not long and before the ovation would die down the branch was greeted with louder ovation at the Federal High Court Legal Year in October 2019 – in a Speech delivered – Speaking Truth to Power. Without mincing words, at that moment our branch began to be prominent in the comity of all branches and in Nigeria as general, no wonder I was extended invitation by 4 Justices of Federal High court, all the speeches made in course of our administration shall be made available soon, Though, as beneficial as this scheme is, sustainability is posing a great challenge and looking at our archive, our branch had made useful recommendation to RoLAC towards driving the scheme. To our mind, Legal Aids Council of Nigeria (LACON) will be a vantage point in this end. It is our hope that the succeeding administration has to work on having a robust relationship with LACON, ACJMC towards building the sustaining structure for PDSS.
Ladies and Gentlemen, still relying on the primacy of the objective of RULE OF LAW as a strategy in attaining justice in the society that is struggling with the rule of law, our administration in partnership of Rule of Law Development Foundation founded by J.B Daudu, SAN did benefit in no small measure from the national annual conferences of the foundation, that afforded our members, young lawyers great opportunity to learn the rudiment of the criminal law and practice free of charge. The foundation as a good ally did provide great support to the branch and that had helped in projecting the branch as a force to reckon with nationally. Recently, we enjoyed a wide national coverage during the Anti-corruption lecture sponsored by the foundation. The lecture apart from its rich content attracted prominent speakers and personalities within and outside the legal community.
Further on this line, our administration felt that making a remarkable impact in the administration of justice it would be desirable first to identify stakeholders that we must work with and to see how we could address this together. In this context, our areas of engagement were proposed for partnership on various issues that needed to be addressed for the advancement of the Rule of Law. Our starting point was visitation on October 2019 to National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to readdress the proposal submitted by the last administration on the (I) the Implementation and the Domestication of Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act 2015 and Prosecution of cases of Electoral Impunity. The NHRC was ready to provide technical support but for the reason that we could not get development partners to fund the project, we could not achieve this dream. We enjoin the succeeding administration to revisit this.
In November 2019, we did visit the Director of Magistrates, FCT towards addressing robust support for the implementation of Section 34 of ACJA 2015 and to create a synergy between the lower bench and bar addressing issues in access to justice in our courts. This was later followed up by RoLAC providing support in that direction though there are still gap to be addressed in this direction. It must be reaffirmed that in our visitation to the Hon. Chief Judge of FCT, the issue was revisited and the branch also dwelled on the need of (I) Appointing the Chairman of NBA Bwari into the Administration of Justice Committee in line with ACJA 2015 and the creation of library in Bwari Judicial Division. I am happy today that our approach had yielded result for I was nominated and appointed immediately into the saddle of this responsibility which had been denied our branch for years. I am glad that this position that the incoming Chairman will continue serving in this committee after the end of my tenure because this administration thinks about the branch than personal interest. A value added advantage to the branch. Before I forget, my successor should see it as a matter of duty to follow up on the provision of the library within Bwari Judicial Division. We subsequently visited DG, LACON in December 5, 2019 and based on the existing memorandum of understanding between LACON and the NBA for partnership in the area of providing legal aid services, our branch did make a recommitment particularly towards the sustenance of the PDSS structure. It is part of my hand over note to inform the new executive committee that LACON during the law week subscribed to our Capital Bar Law Journal and it is yet to redeem the sum of N100, 000 to us. We have made requisition for this money to be paid.
Nevertheless, we had fruitful engagements with the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Attorney- General of Federation towards ensuring that (i) Bwari judicial Division should be provided with more prosecution counsel to speed up the justice administration in our courts (ii) Partnering with the AGF on the sensitization of the public on the implementation on the Anti-torture Act (iii) Application to the Chairman of EFCC and Comptroller of Customs through the AGF for the procurement of the bus (iv) setting up a joint committee of NBA Bwari Branch and Gwagwalada to interface with the AGF on the issues concerning lawyers and the Ministry of Justice, (iv) subscribing to the Capital Bar Law Journal, etc. To a large extent, we succeeded in kick starting the process by setting up the committee towards signing an MOU but for the dare devil bureaucracy we could achieve little before this day and or as we bow out, though leadership is a continue’.
We cannot fail to appreciate and recognize my mentor Chief J-K Gadzama, SAN for his large heart towards the education of our young lawyers through his consistent mentorship program in memory of Late Justice Chukwudifu Oputa the Socrates of our time. Our branch have been blessed and enriched tremendously by this educational food for young lawyers across the country. We thank you and pray that the entire legal profession shall remember your good deeds sooner than later.
Ladies and Gentlemen, as a promoter, advocate and towards spreading the gospel of the RULE OF LAW as a better preference for the RULE OF FEAR, our administration did lend its voice to the national conversation and at the critical moment we spoke truth to power to assert the truth of Soyinka’s words – That the man dies in him who keeps silent in the face of tyranny. For examples, sometimes in the first of August 2019, we issued a press release to mourn our loss of a judicial staff and director in the FCT Judiciary in flooded erosion and vehemently castigated the government for its failure and lack of foresight towards preventing this avoidable tragic incident by simply enhancing on the infrastructure in controlling the erosion. Cases of unlawful arrest and detention, disobedience to court orders were public condemned by this administration. We joined other pro – rule of law activists in condemning the impunity and called for the release of Sowore, Elsazaki, Agbaa- Jalingo, the list is interminable. My leadership challenged the government in a court action for breaching its own rule during the burial of Abba Kyari.
Aluta continua, victoria acerta, we sustained the struggle as the vanguard for the oppressed and the advocate of the masses. In December 10, 1999 precisely in commemoration of the International Human Rights Day and the Anti – corruption Day, the branch marked the two events with a sensitization programmes that widely covered by the media, educating the public and engaged in a WALK FOR FREEDOM in Dutse and explored the platform to address okada riders, market women and members of the public on their rights. In December 2020, we marked the Anti-corruption Day with a thought provoking lecture as it would be further mentioned in this speech and in 2020, I was recognized by the President of NBA to represent him on a big stage of the world Human Rights Day wherein I delivered a thought provoking speech that endeared our branch to the international world, the branch was recognized by the national leadership as a veritable ally in advocacy and national issues. No wonder the President of NBA invited my humble self as the only branch chairman across the entire country for a zoom meeting to discuss ways of calling off the recent JUSUN strike. May I sound it so loud, that the President of NBA ably led by MR. Olumide Akpan (AKPATA CARE PROVIDER) do not discriminate , despite not voting for him during the election that brought him as our President , yet recognized my qualities and capabilities despite false rumors being peddled against me and supplied to him. Please Where ever My President is today, help me convey this message that he is a great man and a rear breed of our time.
Ladies and Gentlemen, finding recourse as refrain to the late sage that saying that – There were leaders who, in the times of crises lurched their followers to face the crises alone. In fact the true test of the leadership is its capacity to stand with the people at the most critical and challenging times. The invasion of the covid 19 pandemic and the attending lockdowns were not only devastating to us as a branch to the legal profession as a whole. The most vulnerable of these were young lawyers that had little shock absorbers to contain the impact and colossal economic and social hardship that followed. The branch with a lean purse had to mobilize for fund for support in providing palliatives for the young lawyers and also our older members as well. Precisely in the second week of April 2020, the branch procured food stuff that was rich in balance diet for members. The palliatives were distributed at the closest bus stop and door step to the members from from Dawaki to Deide, from Bwari to Kubwa and from Mpape to Zuba all over the places. It is interesting to note that in this distribution we had the honour of reaching out to the widows of our deceased members; I humbly request that the incoming executives be humane to reach out to the said windows from time to time.
Though, we cannot but thank God that while remembering the heroes of our past, we did not bury our members in this administration or losing anyone to kidnappers. We enjoyed the peace in the branch and in our various homes. God showers of love on this administration are enormous and cannot be quantified and by His generous Grace, we have among us today, two learned Silks. It is the lord doing and it is marvelous in our sight. Our branch appreciated and greatly valued this honors and this encouraged my leadership not only to honour the two learned silks that are our members – Dr M.N Mohammed, SAN and Chief Henry Okechukwu Akunubue SAN but also identified with the indefatigable roles and supports enjoyed by the branch from Mr. Afam Osigwe, SAN and Mela Nunghe, SAN at the critical times and for unending fatherly support to the branch till date.
We improved on the tradition of providing welfare support to our members who celebrated births, marriages and including those who were sick or had accident. Having had a critical appraisal of the negative effect of Covid 19 pandemic on the income of members, young and old and like April fool we reduced the payment of the branch due this was contained in our press release of April 1, 2020 towards the fulfillment of our servant oriented leadership and in view of the economic realities of the time. To this end our number has tremendously increased in 2020 alone, in spite of our skeletal meetings and the passive practice that caused by the combination of invisible and visible forces from Covid 19, endsars protests and pervasive insecurity, our branch recorded tremendous additional financial/ registered members (84). This is but a rare feat! In the succeeding year, 2021, still counting, we recorded far more registered members than the previous year (161). In the stamp application process of which I personally committed my service for prompt and efficient delivery, this administration processed, delivered stamp application to 214 (Two Hundred and Fourteen) members in 2020. We had a better record in 2021 with about 304 (Three Hundred and Four) members. The record of attendance at meetings both physical and virtual was remarkably impressive with an average of One Hundred to over One Hundred and Twenty attendances in 2020/2021. This reflected in the Law Week’s registered of members in the two days events. The day 1 recorded 143 registered physical members and 89 virtual attendances while the day 2 overshot our budgeted attendees of 150 participants. Our members alone that attended the day 2 event were 182 in numbers and 76 virtual attendances. This was an impressive record bequeathed to the incoming administration and we pray that our membership should be moving from strength to strength.
Ladies and Gentlemen, it is our belief that the branch has come of age and we shall not be lacked behind in the competing worlds of the e-government and digital age. Towards this development, in March 2020 before the imposition of the Covid 19 – lockdowns, our administration launched the Automated/digital ID cards and car stickers with the impressive security features. This project has distinguished the branch with this unprecedented record. It is to my delight that we are model to other branches, and was glad when the ICT department of the National called and requested to have the model of the innovation by having discussion with the branch ICT providers.
Towards building the capacity of the members, encouraging members towards, career development, and Continue Legal Education, the administration published the 2nd Edition of the Capital Bar Law Journal in honour of the retired Hon. Chief Judge of the High Court of FCT. The book was formally presented at the Valedictory Event in honour of the retired Chief Judge. The journal is a cesspool of ideas, and contribution from the eminent members of the legal profession who had contributed meaningfully to the Nigerian and international legal jurisprudence. We have sold some copies but we still have about 247 copies of Vol. 1, published by the past administration left to be handed over and hundreds copies of the 2nd Edition. The Executive Committee did initiate the Newsletter publication covering activities of the branch and members towards giving the branch the proper feasibility she deserves.
The climax of our efforts in promoting Continuing Legal Education was the success we recorded in organizing unprecedented two day event – Law Week 2021 with the impeccable attendance. We had an impressive phyical 446 attendance, combining our registered members, and guests participating in the two days events. The occasion was attended by the dignitaries from all walks of life and over the federation with deserving honors bestowed on over sixty seven distinguished members, legal icons and Nigerians at large. This is to inform all that the certificate of attendance will be issued to every attendee that supplied his or her details in the course of the event.
The endsars destruction of the secretariat was a setback for this administration. We lost all our valuables to fire and looting due to the invasion of our secretariat at Customary Court Building, Dutse. In order to keep the administration going we applied to the Hon. Chief Judge who graciously gave us a space here in Magistrate Court, where we are currently holding meetings. The Executive Committee subsequently replaced some of the lost items by the procurement of (1) Installed Computer Hardware, (2) Sharp MU31U – Photocopy Machine (Public Address System) (3) Wall fan (4) Ntel Wireless Internet Wifi, (5) 50 pairs of executive conference Chairs, a stand -by Generator etc
Our administration saw courts within our jurisdiction as a place best referred to as lawyers workshop hence this administration saw need to give back to where we ply our trades by providing and replacing some bad bulbs, repairs of air-conditions and providing wall fans where necessary, and in our secretariat lawyers from every jurisdiction are allowed to use the internet services and make copies of court processes free of charge.
Our administration witnessed a lot of sacrifices hence. Monies meant for the branch was used for the branch. We must commend the sacrifices made by the secretary of the branch as he personally took care of the maintenance of the car of the branch all through this administration. Part of my resolution during my campaign was to take responsibility of all my expenses that ordinarily may be the responsibility of the branch such as NEC meetings and other branch activities. In other words, all through our administration the servant chairman did not appropriate a dime/kobo to the office of the chairman as a running cost rather gave back to the branch by printing complimentary cards to all Excos in the inception of our administration, the servant chairman sponsored and produced all the receipts, membership registration forms (online and hardcopy), official seal of the branch as none was handed over to me upon the assumption of this outgoing tenure/ administration.
Permit me to state here and on record that, my predecessor chairman did not hand over anything to me as prescribed by the bye law of NBA 2015 as amended and it goes with great consequences which must be looked into going forward, he doubled as a NECREP of the branch and unfortunately all through our tenure, let it be on record that he did not present a NEC Report to the house despite sponsoring same especially all NEC Meetings hosted outside FCT. We must be seen as servants and not emperors and as leaders, we must see every ones tenure as the continuation of the other that was why we paid an inherited debt of over three hundred thousand Naira (N300,000) owed by the past administration as we made every effort not to transfer any financial burden on the incoming administration rather we hope to have a substantial credit balance after the inauguration and to hand over first of its kind audited account from a reputable firm detailing our income and expenditure of item by item all through our administration. It shall be made public for all to see and I recommend the incoming administration to set up panel to review our submissions therein towards authenticating our assertion or otherwise.
We must bring to the knowledge of this august gathering that this administration towards enhancing our financial capacity did pay the Director General, Nigerian Law School a courtesy visit where we solicited that students of law school upon being called to Bar should be made to pay their first branch due to the host branch, Bwari Branch, and our supplication was answered in affirmation by the DG Law school during his good will message to the branch. We must appreciate all that made this possible. Nevertheless, the Chairman Area Council who graciously attended the Law Week in person did raise our hope on the allocation of a piece of land within the jurisdiction to the branch. I hope my successor had reiterated this during his campaign that he would follow it up and would ensure that the branch in the couple of years would be a proud owner of its Bar Centre.
Lastly, may i use this opportunity to appreciate all members especially Elder Ibe, Pastor Ojefu , Chief Nweke, chief Uwen and many too numerous to mention for supporting this administration and for conducting ourselves in an orderly manner during and after the election. I urge the new executives to accommodate all for harmonious and prosperous Bwari Branch. Going forward, the branch should look into utilizing electronic means in conducting election to reduce the acrimony, tension and bitterness that confronted the last election wherein young lawyers supported by seniors were heard shouting holy ghost fire on the servant chairman , castigating him with avalanche of unprintable names and renditions throwing caution to the wind.
Things must be done properly and according to the tenets of this regulated profession, juniors must respect the seniors, and seniors must conduct themselves in a manner to attract commensurable respect due to them. Those found in place of authority should be guided by the law and not to circumvent same for personal gains and it is on this premise, I urge the incoming administration to recognize Mr. Felix Ashimole also known as CHE’ as a past secretary of the branch as his purported resignation did not comply with the provision of Section 14 Sub 3 of the Uniform Bye Law 2015 as amended and the general meeting lacks powers to amend the constitution of NBA. The branch being urged to be known as the cradle bar must begin to practice what we stand for. We have come of age and we must be seen as the foundation of the Bar in deeds and character.
Thank you all for listening.
