By Prince Azubuike, Esq.

Following the invasion of the official residence of Hon. Justice Mary Peter-Odili, JSC by yet to be identified Police officers allegedly attached to the Ministry of Justice on the basis of an ex parte order, some very distinguished senior members of the Bar saw the said invasion of the residence of Hon. Justice Mary Peter-Odili as an opportunity to score cheap political points.

The leadership of the NBA, on being seized of the facts leading to the said invasion and being the umbrella body of lawyers in the country swiftly intervened and issued a strong statement condemning the said invasion of the residence of the Supreme Court Justice and further set up a panel led by Dr. Monday Ubani, Esq. the Chairman of SPIDEL. As a precursor to the above, the President of NBA sought audience with the Honourable Attorney of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN who was accused of masterminding the alleged invasion of the said residence.

Surprisingly, some Senior Advocates jumped into the arena and saw the invasion of the residence of the apex court Justice as an opportunity to exhibit Bar activism. The Abuja Chapter of the Body of Senior Advocates led by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN and accompanied by some Abuja-based Senior Advocates paid a solidarity visit to the AGF, Abubakar Malami, SAN to counter the position of the Bar as ably presented by the NBA President. Recall that Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN sometime in 2020 led the campaign that only Senior Advocates are fit to be Presidents of NBA.

Similarly, a member of the delegation, who incidentally is the Chairman of the Welfare Committee of the NBA, undermined the office of the NBA President by swiftly issuing a statement and subsequently participating in the solidarity visit to the office of the Attorney General of the Federation against the interest of the Bar.

It is imperative we realize that once the leadership of the NBA has issued a statement concerning any issue affecting the Bar or Bench, it becomes most unnecessary for any person or group within the Association to issue any statement or carry out any act on same issue the NBA has taken a position, as doing so will serve no useful purpose and it will only serve to portray our Association and our approach as uncoordinated and ineffective. This, the NBA must avoid by all means.

Written By Prince Azubuike, Esq.