Chairmen of the eight Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) branches in Rivers State have issued a strong condemnation of a recent query issued to the Chairman of the NBA Port Harcourt Branch, Cordelia Eke, by the Administrator of Rivers State through the Ministry of Justice.
Ebiriemg Deresima, the director of administration at the Ministry of Justice, signed the April 25 inquiry, which accused Eke of “serious misconduct” and claimed she co-authored a communique denouncing the administration for “severe and brazen acts of lawlessness and impunity” as well as for actions deemed unconstitutional, such as attacking peaceful protesters and dismantling democratic institutions.
Her conduct, according to the Administrator, were unworthy of a federal servant and in violation of the Public Service Rules.
The NBA branch chairmen characterized the accusations in a joint press release on Monday as an effort to silence dissenting opinions among the state’s legal community and to frighten Mrs. Eke.
They explained that, in accordance with her constitutional responsibility within the NBA, Eke issued the contentious statement as the elected chairperson of the Port Harcourt Branch rather than in her role as a public servant.
The chairmen contended that the comments they released collectively, including the one cited dated April 9th, represented the stance of all NBA branches in the state and were the result of formal discussions inside the association.
Additionally, they pointed out that their opinions are in line with those of the NBA nationally, as stated by Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, the Association’s president.
They also noted that their views align with those of the NBA at the national level, as articulated by the Association’s President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN.
The NBA chairmen also criticised the query as part of a broader effort by the Sole Administrator to suppress free speech and dismantle democratic norms under the guise of maintaining peace. They affirmed their obligation to protect the rule of law and promised not to be intimidated into silence.
It must be noted that the main objective of the Nigerian Bar Association is the promotion of the rule of law thus. As society’s watchdog, it is our responsibility to speak truth to power on behalf of attorneys and the public, and we cannot be scared to avoid this important duty.
Consequently, we, the Chairmen of NBA Branches in Rivers State, condemn in its entirety the query issued to our Brother Chairman of NBA Port Harcourt Branch and demand an immediate withdrawal of the same.
We consider the issuance of this query to our brother Chairman as an unfortunate act the Sole Administrator has decided to use to suppress freedom of speech and constitutional rights of the good people of Rivers State against his various incidences of dismantling of peaceful democratic institutions already in existence in Rivers State and other acts and actions capable of causing breach of peace instead of maintaining the peace which was the primary claim for his appointment as Sole Administrator in Rivers State. We condemn in its entirety the query issued to our colleague and demand its immediate withdrawal,” the chairmen said.
The press statement was signed by: Dr. Hilda Desmond-Ihekaire, Chairman, Ahoada Branch; Simple Dioha, Esq., Chairman, Isiokpo Branch; Abiye Abo, Esq., Chairman, Degema Branch; Dr. N. A. Duson, Chairman, Bori Branch; and Dr. Celestine Nwankwo, Chairman, Okehi Branch.
They reiterated their determination to oppose any intimidation or retaliation directed at NBA executives, attorneys, or the general public in Rivers.
They claimed that the query to our brother Chairman is nothing but a ploy by which the Sole Administrator seeks to intimidate her into discontinuing her functions and duties as Chairman of NBA Port Harcourt Branch, and to prevent Rivers State lawyers and other decent citizens from speaking out against executive rascality and impunity.
