NBA And Sustainable Development In Nigeria

It was indeed amazing on Monday, August 22 morning as a huge traffic jam lined up the two major roads in Port Harcourt. The Aba and Ikwerre Roads were decidedly no-go-areas. Besides, the traffic situation, security apparati in the state were beefed up to ensure a hitch-free conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

Vehicle drivers turned on their reverse gear and headed away from old Port Harcourt city, venue of the conference.

At the Port Harcourt civic centre, Moscow Road, a mammoth crowd had gathered for the 2011 conference. Lawyers from the 36 states of the country, as well as the federal capital territory, Abuja, had come to the Garden City to attend the Bar Conference.

Two things made this year’s Bar Conference unique: one, it is being hosted in the nation’s treasure base, which appears like the biblical land flowing with milk and honey. Consequently, many lawyers wouldn’t want to miss an opportunity thus. Do not forget the fact that Rivers people are noted for their hospitality.

Another reason why many lawyers won’t want to miss the Bar Conference in Port Harcourt is that they want to hear from the country’s foremost playwright and Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka.

Prof. Soyinka, a human right activist is noted for his criticism of the ills of the society. His bold criticism of the wrong doings of the politicians in the country has earned him the accolade of a social crusader.

It is, therefore, not surprising that his presence at the conference attracted the crowd.

The theme of this year’s conference is, “Sustainable Development in Nigeria”.

In his keynote address, Prof. Soyinka addressed the mailaise of the Nigerian state, lambasted the worsening corruption and regretted that the judiciary was yielding to corruption.

The erudite scholar charged the Bar Association to continue to work towards improving the Nigerian democracy.

He said the Bar had a lot to do towards sustaining our democracy.

However, Prof. Soyinka’s reference to corruption in the judiciary may not be unconnected to the face-off between the nation’s Chief justice and the president of the Court of Appeal. The recrimination and the trading of accusations have left the nation’s judiciary reeling backwards. The National Judicial Council’s intervention did not help matters as everything seemed to have gone from bad to worse.

Pathetically, Salami has been suspended while an acting PCA has been appointed. But Salami has headed to court to prove a point.

On the other hand, the Bar Association is opposed to Salami’s suspension while the matter lingers in the court.

Nonetheless, the face-off between the CJN and PCA is unprecedented in the history of the Nigerian judiciary. It may be an indication of the soaring corruption in the nation’s judiciary that needs to be addressed.

As grave as the situation may be, Chief Justice Katsina –Alu is retiring this year as he turns 70: Salami has been suspended. This may be the needed panacea to the problems of the judiciary.

Speaking with The Tide, a participant at this year’s conference, Chijioke Agi Esq, said that the Bar would continue to ensure that democracy is sustained in spite of the challenges they face. He noted that it was better to die for something than to live for nothing.

The Port Harcourt-based legal practitioner said that he subscribed to the position of the Bar in the matter concerning Katsina-Alu and Salami.

He described the face-off between the duo as a huge dent in the face of the Nigerian judiciary. Mr. Agi described the Port Harcourt conference as unique because of the events unfolding in the judiciary.

Also speaking, Barr. Abraham Clement, a Lagos legal practitioner, remarked that this year’s conference was unique in several ways.

According to him, “the conference will address the challenges facing the Nigerian state”.

He said the theme of this year’s conference was apt.

On the rift between Salami and Katsina-Alu, he stated that the matter should not have worsened if properly handled.

He noted that the Bar Conference had so much to offer.

To Mr. Uche Allen, the Port Harcourt conference is worthwhile. He praised Governor Chibuike Amaechi for the magnanimity shown to the NBA.

Barr. Allen said the governor had demonstrated that Rivers State is hospitable.

He encouraged the Bar to always be at the fore-front in the efforts towards sustaining the Nigerian democracy.

He pointed out that a fledgling democracy was much better than the best dictatorship.

The president of the Commonwealth Bar Association, Boma Osobia, urged the NBA to take the lead in regional issues of law.

She encouraged Nigerian lawyers to register with International Bar Associations and remarked that there were immense benefits accruing from them.

Also speaking, Mr. Jackson Assor, lauded the theme of the year’s conference and described at as apt.

Assor, who just finished his Bar exams noted that the Bar and the Bench must work hands in glove to ensure that our democracy is sustained.

According to him, “lawyers cannot shy away from it, the sustenance of our democracy lies with them. This is because when people are aggrieved the resort to the law. The bench must be manned by impartial umpires”.

He remarked, justice is denied when right-thinking people go away thinking that the judge was biased”.

Mr. Assor encouraged lawyers to continue to play their leadership role by staying away from corruption.

He noted that members of the bench were supposed to be incorruptible.

He warned that judges who perverted justice were liable to face the judgment of God.

Chidi Enyie