Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) has dissolved the branch elections conducted for the Bori branch of the NBA.

In a letter dated July 27, 2022, signed by Mr. John Aikpokpo-Martins, the 1st NBA Vice-President, and obtained by ASKLEGALPALACE.

The resolution also notes that only aspirants who submitted nominations forms to the Christian Mark’s election committee will be considered for a new screening exercise fixed for August 8, 2022.

Below read the full press statement.

The Chairman NBA Bori Branch Rivers State Dear Sir

RE: CRISIS IN BORI BRANCH

Arising from several calls by different members of Bori branch to the National Officers to intervene in the affairs of Bori branch arising from multiple elections conducted by 2 different election committees for the branch, the President, Olumide Akpata mandated the office of the 1st vice-President to intervene and take all actions necessary to returns normalcy to the branch in accordance with the constitutional supervisory powers of the 1st Vice President and the overriding directory power of the President.

FACT FINDING:

I held a meeting with all the stakeholders in the branch i.e. the executive committee, the two different elections committee; and the elders and leaders forum of the branch on the 9th day of July, 2022 at the NBA House, Port-Harcourt.

The crisis was precipitated by the removal of Christian Mark, Esq. and 2 other members of the electoral committee as the chairman and members of the committee respectively by the executive committee of the branch on allegations of attempts by some persons (including as alleged, the chairman of the election committee in the May, 2022 monthly general meeting of the branch) to doctor the attendance register of meetings of the branch, by inserting names of members who did not attend meetings for the purpose of qualifying them for the then upcoming election.

One of the names alleged to have been fraudulently inserted was that of Christian Mark, the election committee chairman and Joel Didi, a candidate for the office of the chairman in the election.

It was further alleged by the executive committee of the branch that the electoral committee led by Christian Mark breached the confidence reposed on it when the committee cleared Joel Didi and several others qualified to contest the election for branch offices, whereas they were not qualified by reason of failure to pay Bar practicing fees; branch dues as a when due; and/or failure to meet the minimum and requite 5 meetings attendance at monthly meetings of the branch within the 12 months preceding nominations to contest the election as provided for by the Uniform bye-laws.

That arising from the allegations said to have been investigated and found to be true, the executive committee reconstituted the election committee and appointed Sunday Caleb Ogodo as the Chairman of the election committee with the mandate to continue and conclude the election. The executive committee further changed the date of election earlier fixed for the 24th of June, 2022 to the 30th of June, 2022 and the venue of election from Bori to Port Harcourt arising from safety reasons.

However, Christian Mark with 2 other members of his committee disregarded their removal and insisted on conducting the election. They therefore conducted an election on the 24/6/2022, which said election produced Joel Didi as the Chairman-elect. They proceeded and immediately swore him in as Chairman, Bori Branch.

The Sunday Caleb Ogodo led election committee conducted its election in Port-Harcourt on the 30/6/2022 and returned Mr. Idris Shehu as Chairman-elect.

It was at this stage the calls to the President to intervene came in. suffice it to say that I immediately instructed the chairman of the branch, Ledum Finor-Puene to secure all the assets of the branch and further issued a directive that he remains the chairman until the anniversary of his assumption of office.

In the course of my fact finding, I found out that the Chairman of Bori Local Government Area, Divisional Police Officer and armed thugs were invited to meetings of the branch by unnamed members of the branch! This is totally unacceptable, despicable, reprehensible and dishonorable in the extreme. Tribalism unfortunately was also one of the underlying currents in the crisis.

From my findings, I have no doubt that the entire election process was not in consonance with the provisions of the constitution of the Association.

I have no doubt from my findings that the process of election was deliberately corrupted for several reasons by several key actors in the branch with the inordinate ambitions to continue to control; gain control; exclude others and; demands of unquestionable loyalties far and above as contemplated by the constitution of the Association.

From my findings, I have no hesitation in believing that the process of election was clean and fair up to the time nominations were submitted by aspirants to the Christian Mark led electoral committee.

CONCLUSION.

In the light of all the above, I hereby hold that the 2 election committees led by Christian Mark and Sunday Caleb Ogodo should and ought to be dissolved and are hereby dissolved. I further hold that the purported elections conducted by the said committees ought to be set aside for wanting in good faith and are hereby voided ab initio.

The aspirants who submitted nominations forms to the Christian Mark’s election committee shall be those to be considered for further consideration; for the avoidance of doubt, the 3 Aspirants are: Ezinne Okoro (Mrs.) 2. Joel DIdi Esq. and 3. Idris Shehu Abayomie.

Arising from the total lack of trust amongst members of the branch, the 1st Vice-President, Mr. Promise Uche Ichebo (Chairman of Isiokpo branch) and Ebi Ebiere (immediate past secretary of Yenagoa branch) are hereby given the mandate to conduct proper election into executive offices of the branch, using solely the list of aspirants who returned nominations forms to the Christian Mark’s election committee.

The said team led by the 1st Vice President shall screen the candidates in accordance with the provisions of the uniform bye-laws for branches before conducting the election. The screening of candidates is hereby fixed for the 8th of August, 2022 and the election fixed for the 9th of August, 2022 respectively at the NBA House, Port-Harcourt for security and safety reasons.

It is hereby further directed that the present officers of the branch shall continue to act pending the conduct and swearing in of a new executive for the branch.

John Aikpokpo-Martins, 1st Vice President. 27/07/2022