By Editor

*If the Branch was to endorse any candidate, only Maikyau could have been endorsed *Says it will maintain its neutral tradition of not endorsing any candidate

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Birnin Kebbi Branch popularly known as Equity Bar, has denied endorsing Joe Kyari Gadzama, SAN For NBA Presidency.

Some members of the Beach had on May 23 came out in numbers to endorse Chief Gadzama. Speaking on behalf of the members of the branch who came out in their numbers for J-K Gadzama, SAN, Abubakar Abdullahi, Esq., the Principal Partner of A. Abdullahi & Co., who mobilized Counsel from the branch, said the Learned Silk is a man of many good things, a man of pedigree and that he has never had any doubt about the ability of the learned senior advocate to lead the Bar.

However, in a statement made available to ASKLEGALPALACE signed by its Chairman (Kabir Aliyu, SAN and Secretary (Aminu Hassan), the Branch denied ever endorsing Gadzama adding the instant disclaimer is necessary to debunk the misleading publication.

The statement reads in part, “This disclaimer has become necessary to set the record straight about a misleading publication on the portal of LAW PARLIAMENT@Triplenet blogs (TNB)) which came to our notice on 23rd May, 2022 at about 9:19PM when it was forwarded/shared by one Iliyasu Ibrahim Adamu, Kebbi State J-K Gadzama SAN’s Campaign Coordinator on the Branch’s recognised WhatsApp group, captioned “EQUITY BAR ENDORSES J-K GADZAMA, SAN”.

“On the 20th May, 2022, Mr J-K Gadzama, SAN visited Birnin Kebbi Branch (the Equity Bar) of the Nigerian Bar Association and sequel to the notice by the said Iliyasu Ibrahim Adamu some members of the branch with only three officials of the branch (not including the Chairman, the Secretary, the NEC Rep, the Vice Chairman, the Treasurer etc), met with the Candidate at the Branch’s Temporary Secretariat in Birnin Kebbi. There were goodwill messages to the candidate from such members who were in attendance as could be observed from the contents of the publication but obviously there was no formal endorsement whatsoever of the candidate as erroneously and mischievously captioned by the blogger..

“The caption is misleading and the insensitive slant of the Law Parliament caption/report has the tendency to mislead unsuspecting and unwary readers that are not discreet enough to read the contents of the publication. The caption is complete misrepresentation facts and the contents of the publication. Consequently, it may stir anger and disaffection among members of the Branch and by extension lawyers, the general public and more especially the other candidates vying for the same post.”

Furthermore, the Branch says if at all there are were to be endorsements, then they would have gone from Y. C. Maikyau, SAN. However, it will not endorse any presidential candidate so as to maintain its tradition of not endorsing any candidate.

They said, “It should be noted that if the Branch is at all going to endorse any of the presidential candidates, it is going to endorse Mr. Y. C. Maikyau, SAN as its preferred candidate. However, the Branch deems it fit to maintain its long established tradition of not officially endorsing any presidential candidate. Our stance is out of our desire to give all candidates a level playing ground to showcase their manifestoes with a view to woo members. And equally, it is aimed at giving our individual members the unfettered right to vote for the candidate of their choice. Indeed, our magnanimity and hospitality have been taken advantage of; hence we are reciprocated with this unsavoury caption or report.

We wish to notify the general public that the report/publication or caption is totally unfounded, uncouth and unacceptable. What is apparent is, the caption is consciously crafted with the aim to give undue advantage to J. K. Gadzama, SAN over other contestants. This was done without giving due regards to the feelings and individual choices of our respective members. Likewise, the publication is inimical to the long established tradition of the branch of not endorsing candidates in order to preserve the unity and harmonious relationship of our members. Really, the publication was done in bad taste and not in the best interest of the Branch and NBA at large..

“The Nigerian Bar Association Birnin Kebbi Branch (the Equity Bar) hereby categorically states that the report/caption is not only sensational but misleading and hence should be retracted within 24 hours after publication of this disclaimer. And we demand a prompt written apology to the branch which should also be published in the same blog otherwise the branch will be left with no other option than to seek for legal redress.” he said.