By Dahiru Suleiman
Alleged government interference in the election of the Jigawa state Chapter of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) has precipitated leadership crisis in the state.
To unravel what stakeholders have described as violation of the association’s constitution and profer panacea, a fact finding Committee headed by the union National Vice Chairman, Barr. John Aikpokpo was constituted.
Submitting its report at the weekend, the committee recognised Nuhu Tafida as the duly elected chairperson of Jigawa state NBA.
The committee also frown against alleged government interference in the affairs of NBA in the state.
Specifically, the Committee found that the purported executive committee of Jigawa branch led by Garba Abubakar, as the chairperson was unlawfully constituted and in contravention of the provisions of the constitution of the Nigeria Bar Association, the articles of the Bye-law for Branches and in direct defiance and gross violation of the directives of Paul Usoro, SAN, the then President of the Association.
The Committee recommended that Nuhu Suleiman Tafida, Esq and his executives be recognized by the President and the National Executive Committee (NEC) as the duly elected Chairman and executives of Jigawa branch of the Nigerian Bar Association forthwith.
“That the Attorney-General of the State, Musa Aliyu, be warn to stop interfering in the affairs of the Branch”.
The report was delivered at the NEC meeting weekend and NEC accepted the report and resolutions for immediate implementation.
It would be recalled that the NBA had on 22nd February and in a bid to resolve the lingering leadership crisis in the state visited the branch for a proper understanding of the issues giving rise to the impasse.
At the engagement, the leader of the NBA delegation, and President of the Association, Mr. Olumide Akpata, reiterated the commitment of the leadership of the NBA in engendering an all-inclusive Bar devoid of rancour at the various branch levels, and pointed out that the absence of peace within a Branch of the NBA affects the association.
