...urges unity and harmonious relationship among arms of government
The NBA-SPIDEL Chairman, Dr. Monday Ubani, has described as ‘very unfair’ the relationship between the Judiciary and other arms of government; noting that the judicial arm of government has been relegated to the rank of a “poor cousin, a weeping and aggravated sibling in a relationship of three brothers of equal age and status”.
Ubani made the analogy at the ongoing NBA-SPIDEL conference holding at Abuja, with the theme: “The undermining of Judicial Authority in Democracy”.
The SPIDEL boss also used the opportunity to eulogies the outgoing NBA President, Olumide Akpata, who he described as being more supportive of the group in contrast to the previous administration; as evident in the sole sponsorship of the last town hall meeting of the group on the “Justiciability of Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy”.
The SPIDEL boss further gave insight into the fact that “Akpata encouraged the Section to organize a virtual conference which thoroughly x-rayed the dangers of ex-parte orders procured through forum shopping and often in courts without territorial jurisdiction”. Stressing that the Akpata Administration, in an unprecedented move, “levied petitions at the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) against lawyers who are alleged to be complicit in the matter, including a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).”
Ubani praised the steps taken by the Akpata administration in vigorously intervening in the embarrassing invasion of the residence of now Retired Justice Mary Peter-Odili of Nigeria’s Supreme Court. Noting that the proactive steps show the posture the NBA has chosen to adopt and no longer sitting on the fence.
“The interventionist measures were proactive, timely and sent a warning signal that never again shall NBA sit on the fence and allow this all-important third arm of government to be destroyed by politicians or by anybody for that matter” he noted.
Furthering commending the NBA boss on his other strides in the association, Ubani noted that Akpata, “revamped our infrastructure, our work tools, lawyers’ remuneration, our healthcare, boosted our insurance package, overhauled our Continuing Legal Education, fostered Bar-Bench relations, and gave proper direction to our NEC meetings. He boosted relationships between branches and the national office, institutionalized the Secretariat, and ultimately became a voice for the helpless and voiceless Nigerian. Mr. Akpata spoke for the Bar and all!”.
The conference is being held at Abuja following a religious misunderstanding at the initial state of choice- Sokoto, as part of the aftermath of the gruesome murder of one Ms. Deborah on allegations of blaspheme, as well as the inability of the choice state to objectively guarantee the safety and security of conference attendees.