Paul Usoro must Step Down Now – EBF Leaders
Whoever had advised Paul Usoro to pick up a nomination form and aspire for this project to lead the Bar has terribly misguided him.
The levels of impunity in Nigeria are staggering. The motto of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, commits it to promoting the rule of law. We cannot do that without integrity.
Paul Usoro was once charged with having bribed James Agbadu-Fishim, a judge of the National Industrial Court, with N800,000 paid in 3 instalments and he (Usoro) admitted to having given the judge at least N450k, claiming it was contribution towards his vacation.
In a sane country, Paul Usoro should be facing disciplinary proceedings and should have been disbarred. No one in his right senses should even think of coming to pick form for elective office of the bar if our association is pure and wants to watch her hands off corrupt practices or allegations.
Just as Chidi Odinkalu said, “This idea that a lawyer who admits to having bribed a judge is even considering himself for the office of President of the Bar while the judge that he bribed is being prosecuted, and the payments he made then to the judge are exhibits in that case is worse than a terrible joke. It is an insult to us all. We all have a duty to stop it.”
Paul Usoro must step down and let lawyers of decent standing aspire for the Bar Presidency. He has no standing in morality for him to even consider aspiring to the Presidency of the Bar now or ever.
If the EBF constitution allowed Usoro to step down for Akwa-Cross candidate Okey Wali (SAN) in 2012, having aware of that fact that come 2018 it would be the turn of the South Eastern extraction, then why is he violating the rules and regulations of the EBF? The answer is ‘selfish interest and greed’.
At this juncture, Paul Usoro (SAN) who is supposed to be a learned senior, must be counseled.
Also Read: Legal Torchbearers Honour Pa Tunji Gomez at 90/
“In 1998, the NBA delegate conference held in Abuja elected T.J.O.Okpoko SAN as President of the Bar. The Presidency went to the Eastern Nigeria and Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) was stepped down since it was the turn of the Eastern Bar. Nnaemeka Emeh and OCJ Okocha (SAN) contested. OCJ from Port Harcourt was the adopted candidate by EBF but Nnaemeka Emeh refused to step down and later lost the election.”
“It was the turn of the South West in 2002 and Chief Olanipekun was adopted. A former General-Secretary of NBA, Segun Onakoya, refused to step down but conceded the election at Ibadan to Wole Olanipekun.”
“The next zone was the North in 2004. JB. Daudu (SAN), Bayo Ojo (SAN) and A .B. Mahmud (SAN) were the candidates, but because there was no adopted candidate, the Conference of Northern lawyer’s passed a resolution asking all the candidates to present their candidature, and Chief Bayo Ojo won.”
“The Governor of EBF, Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) was adopted by the East as against Chris Uche (SAN) in the 2006. It was the turn of the South East to produce President and Agbakoba won.”
“It was the turn of the South West again in 2008. Dele Adesina stepped down for adopted candidate Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) to be returned unopposed.”
“In 2010, JB. Daudu (SAN) won as adopted candidate by the North against J.K. Gadzama (SAN).”
“2012 it came back to the South East (turn of the Akwa-Cross). The adopted candidate, Okey Wali (SAN) won against Emeka Ngige (SAN) who refused to abide by the EBF constitution. Recalled that Paul Usoro stepped down for Okey Wali at the adoption of the 2012 race.”
“In 2014, Midwest merged with the South West to vying for president. South West couldn’t agree on who to adopt and presented three candidates (Adekoya, Adesina and Akintola). Midwest adopted candidate, Augustine Alegeh (SAN) won that election.”
“The North in 2016, Arewa Lawyers forum had division and the two camps, the Chairman’s Camp and the Secretary’s camp adopted each candidate, J.K. Gadzama (SAN) and A.B. Mahmud( SAN). Mahmud won 12 years after his first attempt.”
It is the turn of South East (Igbos) to produce a President from that zone. The fact remains that the EBF had always divided their slot between South East and South South. That is why after he made his intention known to the forum; he (Arthur Obi Okafor) was adopted to keep to tradition. OCJ and Okey Wali are from the South-South extraction whilst Olisa and Obi Okafor are from the South-East.
So, if you think you want to opt out of the adoption system, let it be indicated that you are not bound by their decision.
This is an historical excursion as to the beginning and power of adoption.
Also Read: Commencement of Registration Nigerian Bar Association 2018 Annual General Conference/
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