By Ife Osemedua
365Daily – The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has restated its commitment to the rule of law and right to civic expression in the nation, adding that the association was founded to defend the rights of all.
The NBA made this assertion in respect of the controversial comments of its 1st Vice President, Mr. John Aikpokpo-Martins, who was quoted as saying that the President of Nigeria is constitutionally bound to “crush” secessionist agitators in Nigeria.
The body of lawyers said it became incubent on it to make this clarification as it had been inundated with several enquiries over the controversial statement by one of its official.
According to the association, it had become necessary to state categorically that, as was affirmed in the said news report, the views expressed by the 1st Vice President are his personal views which he posted on his Facebook account in the course of an online exchange, and that the said views do not represent the position of the NBA on the subject.
A statement on Sunday, July 4, 2021, by NBA President, Olumide Akpata, read: “For
the avoidance of doubt, the NBA, as an Association founded to defend the Rule of Law, will continue to champion and defend the rights of every Nigerian citizen and/or group including, inter-alia, the right to lawful and peaceful protest; the right to make lawful demands recognised under the Nigerian Constitution or international charters applicable to Nigeria; and the right to enjoy the presumption of innocence until proven otherwise by a Court of Law in a free and fair trial that accords with the basic principles of natural justice.”