In July 2014 soon
Augustine Alegeh SAN was being declared the winner of the 2014 NBA Presidential
election, his main Backer JB Daudu SAN through one of his protégés OA, in the
profession who was my classmate both of
whom, of Kaduna Branch sent an oppressive text message that I should buy Brandy for
libation having critiqued Daudu in 2010-2012 when he was President; when within
minutes of results being announced, I sent a congratulatory message to Daudu
SAN in 2010 yet he remained sadly vengeful through these years & beyond despite
working successfully for his candidate Alegeh’s election in 2014.
20-8-2018, I was so
elated, I called for parties, to learn that Daudu and his co-Backer, Mr Okey
Wali SAN both of whom wanted Mr Okafor SAN, no longer enjoy the privilege of playing
semi-gods in NBA.
When in 2016 I
enthused enough JB Daudu, it is because we in NBA are not slaves. Enough! I was to read of a legal scholar enrolled in 1988
a year post my enrollment, now contemplates or others contemplate the role of
the ‘Conscience of the Bar’. Needn’t we go
through the NBA crucible and at the minimum contest even a small election in
NBA Branch or National level (not mentioning IBA) to get to conscience?. Not of NBA Lagos Branch hence he does not pay
his branch dues to Lagos, assuming there is a Branch he belongs to maybe Owerri.
Lagos Branch had over 6,000 registered voters at this election not counting
Akwa Ibom, Cross Rivers, some S’South, some S’West and some Northern States.
Paul Usoro, the official candidate for Lagos premier branch, his Branch,
beating other presidential candidates in 2018 ought to have come with more
margins.
Some opponents
disrupted my internet service for a few days during accreditation and voting
15-19 August 2018. I had to move for a few days, to get un-interrupted internet
line working.
When Alegeh and
Afam were President and GS respectively, the AGCs under the duo were shabbily
organized and Brother CAO was there defending them. It is on record Dr Odinkalu said those complaining of failure to
deliver or distribute to them, NBA
annual conference bags and materials after paying conference fees should know that he, at conferences
do not have materials and bags handed to him.
Rather than pacify Lawyers angry for not getting services for money
paid, CAO together with Alegeh-Afam assaulted our learned colleagues.
We have now elected
Paul Usoro SAN as NBA President 2018-2020 and for the records, Mr Usoro SAN
worked as hard as any NBA Presidential candidate since 2000-2016 of our Association’s
history, perhaps more. I know because I have participated as a candidate for
the offices of National Assistant Secretary when I was a junior Lawyer under 5
years post call and contested the office of General Secretary in 2000, 2002,
2004, 2006 and 2008 as a senior lawyer above ten years post call and with a
voice for the presidential candidate I back unlike some backers who lack the
courage to publicly declare for their presidential candidate but go under cloak
of critiquing to lampoon the candidate who won!. Didn’t CAO’s mentors Dr Olisa Agbakoba SAN and
Femi Falana SAN make public the name of presidential candidate they endorsed
without equivocation. Who was Chidi A. Odinkalu’s presidential candidate? Look it is fine that candidates who ran their
first ever presidential race in NBA lost to the primus inter pares PU.
Daudu-Wali Wicket
and reign terminated thankfully and prayerfully terminated because those
injustices perpetuated were not going to last forever.
Best,
CA
