The Nigerian Bar Association has described as false the report making round that the NBA President, Mr. Paul Usoro SAN did not participate in the NJC emergency meeting held on 29th January, 2019.
The clarification became necessary as a result of speculations as to the reason why the President would excuse himself from the important meeting. The Public Relation Officer of the NBA Mr. Kunle Edun issued the statement below in respect of the publication:
NBA PRESIDENT BRIEFED NJC ON THE POSITION OF THE NBA
Gentlemen, while our patriotic members were doing the needful to ensure full compliance with the directive of NBA-NEC regarding the boycott of courts, a false reportage was published purporting that the NBA President, Paul Usoro, SAN did not participate in the NJC meeting yesterday, and left early.
Please, kindly disregard the false reportage. It is most unfortunate that important issues can be trivialised for no just cause. The story is 100% untrue.
The NBA President, Paul Usoro, SAN was at the meeting with the other NBA Representatives up to the point that the NJC had to consider the Petitions against the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Mr. Justice Walter Onnoghen and Hon. Mr. Justice Tanko Muhammad, at which point the NBA Representatives had to leave the meeting in compliance with the constitutional stipulation that excludes NBA Representatives from the meeting when disciplinary issues are considered by the NJC.
It is important to also state that before the exit of the NBA Representatives, the NBA President had FULLY BRIEFED the NJC on the NBA stand & position, and the Council was most appreciative.
We continue to urge members not to be distracted by such negative reportage. The NBA remains non partisan but shall continue to insist that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria be respected by all parties regarding the purported suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria.
Kunle Edun