21st August, 2020.
Paul Usoro, SAN
Nigeria Bar Association President
National Secretariat
NBA House, Plot 1101 Mohammadu Buhari Way,
Central Business District
Abuja, F.C.T, Nigeria
Dear Sir,
RE: WITHDRAWAL OF INVITE TO MALLAM NASIR EL-RUFAI BY THE NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION
The news of the withdrawal by the Annual General Conference Planning Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association, its earlier invitation to Governor NasirAhmed El-Rufai as a guest speaker in the forthcoming NBA 60th Annual General Conference was received by my humble self with rude shock and bewilderment. It is utterly scandalous to say the least. My response is principally dictated by the strange circumstance leading to and surrounding the said withdrawal of the invitation which is based on a one sided allegations contained in a petition by the so-called Open Law Initiative which was believed and acted upon by the Annual General Conference Planning Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association without any referenceto Governor El-Rufai.
The decision taken by the NBA to withdraw their invitation to Governor El-Rufai on the basis of the wild and unsubstantiated allegations contained in the Open Bar Initiative Petition without any reference to the Governor is not only a naked affront on the rule of law but also a contradiction of the NBA’s motto which held itself out as the custodian, defender and guardian Angel of the rule of law in Nigeria.
The implications of this grievous decision by the NBA demonstrates a total disregard for the basic constitutional provision of fair hearing which is the foundation and bedrock of the rule of law designed for the safeguard of fundamental right and freedom in any civilised and democratic society. It therefore beats all imagination that an elitist professional body like the NBA could take a decision that negates the very essence of this fundamental constitutional provision, no matter how tempting or appealing the reason may be.
Going further, it is also instructive to note that the NBA sat down, constituted itself unto a court and adjudged Governor El-Rufai guilty of all the allegations contained in the said Petition without hearing a word from the Governor and thereafter proceeded to apply the sanction requested by the Petitioners which is a withdrawal of the invitation. What a “court?” Can this be called justice and fairness? Is this exemplary?
It would certainly not be out of place to insinuate political motives behind this unfortunate decision as the NBA as a professional body who is supposed to be in the fore front of the protection and promotion of the rule of law in Nigeria should know better than this. After all, members of the NBA Executive and Annual Conference Planning Committee as constituted can be counted among the brightest legal minds in Nigeria.
On a final note, this attitude of the Association drives home the point that our beloved country still has a long way to go. The Nigerian Bar Association is not just an Association, it is an Association that is expected to serve as the conscience of the nation. If such an Association now descends into the realm of partisanship, parochialism, unfounded hearsay and one sided justice, then the Country is lost indeed.
I consider it important to advise that the Association maintains its hitherto apolitical nature. It should not lend itself a tool of vendetta in the hands of unscrupulous people who wants to use the NBA to fan the embers of discord
God bless the Nigerian Bar Association.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Sincerely
A.U. Mustapha, S.A.N.
Your blog has helped me through some tough times and I am forever grateful for your positive and uplifting content
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for being a source of positivity and light in this sometimes dark and overwhelming world
Your writing is so inspiring and motivating I always leave your blog feeling more determined and resilient
It’s always a joy to stumble upon content that genuinely makes an impact and leaves you feeling inspired. Keep up the great work!
Do you mind if I quote a couple of your posts as
long as I provide credit and sources back to your weblog?
My blog is in the very same area of interest as yours and my users
would truly benefit from some of the information you provide here.
Please let me know if this okay with you. Thank you!
This is such an informative and well-written post! I learned a lot from reading it and will definitely be implementing some of these tips in my own life
Thank you for sharing your personal experience and wisdom with us Your words are so encouraging and uplifting
My coder is trying to persuade me to move to .net from PHP.
I have always disliked the idea because of the costs.
But he’s tryiong none the less. I’ve been using Movable-type on several websites for about a year and am
anxious about switching to another platform. I have heard good things about blogengine.net.
Is there a way I can import all my wordpress content into it?
Any kind of help would be really appreciated!
Have you ever thought about including a little bit more than just your articles?
I mean, what you say is fundamental and all. However think of if you
added some great visuals or video clips to give your posts more, “pop”!
Your content is excellent but with pics and clips, this site could certainly be one of the very best in its
niche. Fantastic blog!
Thanks for a marvelous posting! I definitely enjoyed reading it, you will be a great author.I will
be sure to bookmark your blog and definitely will come back sometime soon. I want to
encourage that you continue your great posts, have a nice holiday weekend!
I have been struggling with this issue for a while and your post has provided me with much-needed guidance and clarity Thank you so much
Your vulnerability and honesty in your posts is truly admirable Thank you for being so open and authentic with your readers
I love how this blog promotes self-love and confidence It’s important to appreciate ourselves and your blog reminds me of that
It’s clear that you truly care about your readers and want to make a positive impact on their lives Thank you for all that you do
Your blog has quickly become one of my favorites I always look forward to your new posts and the insights they offer
What other topics would you like to see covered on the blog? Let us know in the comments!
Your latest blog post was truly inspiring and had some great insights. I can’t wait to see what else you have in store.
This blog covers important and relevant topics that many are afraid to address Thank you for being a voice for the voiceless
Very soon this web page will be famous amid all blog visitors, due to it’s fastidious articles
or reviews
Your writing is so inspiring and motivating I always leave your blog feeling more determined and resilient
Your blog post was really enjoyable to read, and I appreciate the effort you put into creating such great content. Keep up the great work!
Drop a link to your favorite blog post of yours in the comments below, I’d love to read more.
As someone who struggles with mental health, I appreciate the support and empathy displayed in your blog It means a lot to know I’m not alone
Your blog stands out in a sea of generic and formulaic content Your unique voice and perspective are what keep me coming back for more
Your blog has become my go-to source for inspiration and motivation I am so grateful for the valuable content you provide
Your writing has a way of making me feel like I’m having a conversation with a close friend It’s so genuine and relatable
Your blog has become my go-to source for inspiration and motivation I am so grateful for the valuable content you provide