Omotayo Adigun
The chairmen of the eight branches of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Rivers State have collectively denounced a recent query issued to the Chairman of the NBA Port Harcourt Branch, Cordelia Eke, by the Administrator of Rivers State, Ibok-Ete Ibas, acting through the Ministry of Justice.
The contentious query, dated April 25 and signed by Ebiriemg Deresima, the director of administration at the Ministry of Justice, accuses Mrs. Eke of “serious misconduct.”
The allegations stem from her purported co-authorship of a communique that strongly criticized the current administration for what the NBA described as “severe and brazen acts of lawlessness and impunity,” including the alleged dismantling of democratic institutions and attacks on peaceful protesters.
The Administrator contended that these actions violated Public Service Rules and were unbecoming of a civil servant.
In a unified press statement released on Monday, the chairmen of the eight NBA branches in Rivers State vehemently rejected the allegations, characterizing them as a blatant attempt to intimidate Mrs. Eke and suppress dissenting voices within the legal community of the state.
They clarified unequivocally that Mrs. Eke issued the referenced communique not in her capacity as a civil servant, but in her duly elected role as the Chairman of the Port Harcourt Branch of the NBA, acting in accordance with her constitutional mandate within the association.
The NBA branch chairmen asserted that their collective statements, including the communique dated April 9th, were the result of formal deliberations within the association and accurately reflected the unified position of all NBA branches across Rivers State. They further emphasized that their views are consistent with the stance articulated by the national leadership of the NBA, as expressed by the Association’s President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN.
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The NBA chairmen further criticized the query as part of a broader strategy employed by the Sole Administrator to stifle freedom of speech and undermine democratic norms under the guise of maintaining peace and order. They firmly declared their unwavering duty to uphold the rule of law and vowed that they would not be silenced or intimidated in the face of what they perceive as executive overreach.
“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 an attempt to intimidate lawyers in Rivers State and by extension other good people of Rivers State from standing up and speaking against executive rascality and impunity,” the chairmen stated emphatically.
They underscored the fundamental objective of the Nigerian Bar Association as the promotion of the rule of law, asserting their role as the watchdog of society. In this capacity, they affirmed their duty to speak truth to authority on behalf of lawyers and the general public, stating that they would not be intimidated into abdicating this sacred responsibility.
“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,” the statement read.
The chairmen further asserted that the issuance of the query was an unfortunate tactic employed by the Sole Administrator to suppress freedom of speech and the constitutional rights of the people of Rivers State against the alleged dismantling of democratic institutions and other actions capable of causing a breach of peace, contrary to the stated aim of maintaining peace.
The press statement was jointly 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 collectively reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to resist any form of harassment or persecution targeting the leadership of the NBA, its members, or the wider public within Rivers State.