SAN FRANCISCO, September 10, (THEWILL) – The Borno State chapter of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) has suspended 14 members as the association appears to have been divided over recent allegations against a former governor of the state, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff.
Modu-Sherrif was recently fingered alongside former Chief of Army Staff, General Azubuike Ihejirika, as Boko Haram sponsors by Australian hostage negotiator, Dr. Stephen Davis.
While a faction is in support of the former governor, the other faction calling for the probe of Sheriff and Iherijika is led by the chairman of the Maiduguri branch of the association, Abdul-Wasiu Alfa.
At a briefing last week, Alfa called for Modu-Sherrif and Ihejirika’s probe over the allegations.
However, some members of the association led by Barrister Audu Hassan Muhammed, Monday distanced themselves from what they described as intrusion into politics by their executives.
However, at another media briefing after an emergency congress on Wednesday, the Chairman of the Maiduguri branch of the association, Alfa announced the suspension of 14 members of the association over “gross misconduct and going against the bye-law.”
Alfa said the action became necessary because the suspended members acted against the wishes of the association by addressing a media briefing against the opinion early expressed by executive committee of the association on the allegations against Sherrif .
“The members have been suspended pending the determination of the committee set up to investigate their activities. Fourteen members that appear on the video clip of the press briefing have been suspended.
“They claimed to be 60 but they are not up to that; they are only 14 and they have been suspended. All members of the conference are with us, 90 percent of the congress is with us. I still stand by what I said because it is a reflection of the view of the members,” he explained.
Speaking further, Alfa explained that the members contravened the bye law of the association under Section C 6 sub section 3, saying it is only the chairman that has the mandate to speak on behalf of the association.
“The person that addressed the press has only spent three years in the bar and is not qualified for any post in the association. It is only the chairman that has the mandate to address the press. What they did contravenes the law; they can only call for an emergency meeting.”
Alfa alleged that the suspended members were financially induced to address the press briefing, saying their suspension was ratified by 116 members that attended the congress.
“I want to assure members of the public that NBA Maiduguri branch is intact, we are never divided, those that collected money and want to bring the association into disrepute have been sanctioned appropriately The view expressed by them is not the view of NBA Maiduguri branch. The early statement made by the chairman is the valid statements of the chairman. There is no crack in NBA Maiduguri branch, “ he said.
