Pascal Arogorn Ibe
The Nigerian Bar Association has
withdrawn its invitation to Kaduna State
Governor , Nasir el – Rufai , following
protests from some lawyers .
The NBA said this in a tweet on Thursday
via its Twitter handle @ NigBarAssoc.
The tweet read , “ The National Executive
Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association
at its ongoing meeting resolves that the
invitation to the Kaduna State Governor ,
H.E . Nasir El- Rufai, by the 2020 Annual
General Conference Planning committee
be withdrawn and decision communicated
to the Governor .”
A petition to stop the governor from
attending the Annual General Conference
which was started by a lawyer , Usani
Odum , had garnered over 3 ,150
signatures on Change .Org as of 4 pm on
Thursday.
In a separate letter titled , ‘ Request to
Withdraw the Offer of Platform at the
2020 Annual General Conference of the
NBA to Mallam Nasir el – Rufai, ’ addressed
to the Chairman , Technical Committee on
Conference Planning , NBA , Prof .
Koyinsola Ajayi , some lawyers said the
governor must not be allowed to speak at
the conference .
The letter , which was signed by Silas Onu
and Auta Nyada , listed 10 allegations
against el – Rufai and his son, Bello, who is
a Special Adviser to Kaduna Central
lawmaker, Senator Uba Sani .
They faulted the NBA for inviting el – Rufai,
citing his alleged poor human rights
record and his inability to stop the
killings , particularly in southern Kaduna .
The lawyers also referenced many
controversial utterances of the governor ,
including a threat during the run- up to
the general elections in 2019 that any
foreigner that interfered in the poll would
leave Nigeria in body bags .
The NBA virtual conference , which holds
from August 24 – 26 , 2020 , is expected to
have Vice- President Yemi Osinbajo and
the Attorney – General of the Federation ,
Abubakar Malami ( SAN ) , in attendance .
Others expected to speak at the event
include former Governor Peter Obi of
Anambra State , Governor Wike of Rivers
State and a former Minister of Education ,
Oby Ezekwesili .
The theme of the conference is : ‘Am I a
Nigerian – A Debate on National Identity ,
the Indigeneship – Citizenship Conundrum.
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