Stop impunity, ensure live broadcast of election petition proceedings, it says
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Arrest and prosecute electoral offenders in the 2023 ballot to enthrone the rule of law and prevent anarchy from disintegrating the country, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has urged Abuja.
The tribal/ethnic bigotry, violence, and intimidation of voters in the election, particularly in Lagos, are condemnable, the NBA said in a communique issued after its quarterly National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Birnin Kebbi.
It canvassed for live media broadcast of election petition proceedings, particularly about the presidential ballot, to boost public confidence in the judiciary now at an all-time low.
“This will give citizens the opportunity to follow the proceedings, have better knowledge of the facts and an understanding of the reasoning behind decisions of the courts in those matters, particularly how the Electoral Act and other applicable laws are applied to election petition matters,” the communique stressed.
The communique was made public in Abuja on Thursday by NBA National Publicity Secretary Akorede Lawal.
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Preventing infiltration of false lawyers
The NEC adopted and approved the proposal of the NBA General Secretary to introduce an NBA Stamp with improved security features and car stickers with QR codes to stop quacks from infiltrating the legal profession, according to the communique, per Tribune.
The stickers should be produced, owned, and distributed by the NBA, the communique insisted, in order to eliminate the loopholes in the current stickers that can be obtained on the street and used by non-lawyers, including commercial motorists.
The NEC resolved the NBA should sponsor a preferred nominee of the Bar to represent the Association as the Vice Chairman in the Body of Benchers after the expiration of the tenure of the current Chairman, Wole Olanipekun, SAN.
Consequently, Funke Adekoya, SAN was unanimously nominated and adopted as the nominee of the NBA for Vice Chairman of the Body of Benchers, the communique explained.
The NEC resolved that if Adekoya declines the nomination, Olisa Agbakoba, SAN should step in as the alternate nominee of the NBA and the NBA President “shall have prerogative” to immediately nominate, without further recourse to the NEC, any senior Bencher of his choice if both Adekoya and Agbakoba decline the nomination.
The NEC also approved
- The budget of the Annual General Conference Planning Committee (AGCPC).
- The proposed 2023 Annual General Conference Fees which would ensure senior citizens (lawyers aged 70 years and above) attend the conference for the first time, free of charge, and lawyers of one to five years call pay an early bird fee of N15,000.
