Lawyers
Some lawyers have questioned the inclusion of Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai as one of the key speakers in the forthcoming virtual conference Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) held on the 12th May, 2020, where it was stated that it will virtually hold its Annual General Conference (AGC) in August due to the COVID-19 pandemic
According to the former president of the association, Paul Usoro (SAN), the decision became necessary after a meeting with the Technical Committee on Conference Planning (TCCP) led by Professor Konyinsola Ajayi (SAN), where it was decided that the 2020 AGC would be held virtually.
The 60th annual Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Conference is expected to commence from 26th through 29th August 2020 and expected at the events are NBA President-elect, lawyers, charged Nigerians Speakers such as the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo; Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike; Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Femi Gbajabiamila; and Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon Justice Tanko Mohammed.
Other key speakers include former President Olusegun Obasanjo; Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai; former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu; Attorney General and Minister of Justice, M.r Abubakar Malami; President of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA), Brian Speers, and Director of Training at the Judicial Institute for Africa; Hon Dame Linda, Dobbs.
In reaction to the inclusion of governor El-Rufai’s name on the list of key speakers, a lawyer identified as Itong Washington deregistered himself from being part of the virtual conference as he wrote on Twitter:
“Dear @NigBarAssoc, I just ran through the list of speakers in the forthcoming virtual conference and Gov. El-Rufai’s name is on the list.
”I’ll be withdrawing my attendance and cancelling my registration for the conference. Thank you”.
The lawyer, however, did not give reasons for his action after seeing El-Rufai’s name on the list.
Also, the convener of Open Bar Initiative, Silas Joseph Onu while condemning the inclusion of El-Rufai’s name on the list of speakers, in a statement today to newsmen said:
“We have observed, with grave disappointment, the inclusion of Governor Nasir El’rufai as one of the speakers in the 2020 Annual Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association.
“It is sad that at a time when El’rufai is playing ostrich with the senseless killings in Kaduna, the Bar Association is giving him our collective platform to speak.
”One can be sure that he will also use the given platform to advance his conflated narrative, designed to deceive and confuse the nation on the real causes of the killings.
“The Kaduna killings cannot be justified as a reprisal by the Governor, using our platform. Reprisal killing is also a criminal offence. However, this Governor makes it appear like a justified cause.
“We are, therefore, calling on the organisers of this conference to immediately remove El’rufai from the list of speakers as not doing so will mean that the NBA is condoning his tactics of wilful maladministration regarding Kaduna South security situation”
Silas however warned that if the NBA Conference Planning Committee and the President of the Bar insist on proceeding with El’rufai as a speaker, the initiative will encourage Nigerian Lawyers to shun the virtual conference.
