The President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Mr. J.B. Daudu has been sacked as bar leader by irate members of his Kaduna State branch over allegations of insincerity and diversion of funds.
A reliable source told our Correspondent that the decision by the lawyers was unanimous, and that the members have replaced Dauda with Uztaz Yunus Usman, who, like Dauda, is also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
Speaking on the situation the chairman of the bar in Kaduna, Mr. Sam Atung, explained how Daudu’s ouster as follows:
“Members raised so many issues, fundamentally on the N10 million that was approved to Kaduna branch by the National Executive Council (NEC) of the NBA. However, unfortunately, even with the advantage of having a President who comes from the branch, who is not only a member of the branch, he is also the leader of the branch; we have not been able to get that money. That has really created problems for us, even as officials of the branch. We had to be appealing to our members time and time again, trying to pacify them on why we have not been able to get the money.
“So during the meeting, our members couldn’t take it any longer. Normally after every conference, the National body of the NBA disburses 20 per cent of the NEC profit to the hosting branch. We hosted the 2010 Annual Conference of the NBA and we are entitled to that 20 per cent of the profit realized from the conference after expenses. There was already a NEC decision that Kaduna branch be paid that amount and at the last AGM, the President came to tell us that it is not N10 million but N4million, we said, alright, let us have the N4 million but even the N4 million is not forth coming, so you can imagine the frustration within our members
“Apart from the issue of the N10million, other issues that were raised were the fact that as the leader of the branch, the President has not participated in any of our activities in the last four years, he has not donated even a single kobo for any of the projects we are undertaking, he has not been paying his dues and what have you. Every member of the NBA has a branch and as a requirement, you cannot contest elections in NBA until you have paid your branch’s dues as at, and when due. It was the decision of the house and it was a unanimous decision. There was no any single contrary voice and we as the leaders of the branch had no other option. Being the leader of the branch is only a privilege, it is just ceremonial and our members in their wisdom deem it fit to change the leader at this point in time.
“You know even before, we were given the hosting right; a lot of people raised the issue of the security challenges in Kaduna. Of course it was to the credit of the President that Kaduna was given the hosting right and just when preparations were in the pipeline, they changed the venue to Abuja. Our only quarrel was that the National Secretariat of the NBA never had the courtesy to inform us that the conference was shifted to Abuja. As I talk with you, nobody has formally informed us, though the conference has come and gone.”
Meanwhile, more of the fissures and divisions within the NBA have come to light through memos exchanged in the past two weeks between the General Secretary of the NBA, Mr. Olumuyiwa Akinboro, and the Treasurer, Mrs. Olufunmi Oluyede.
Writing on August 3, Mr. Akiboro asked Mrs. Oluyede to send in reports of her office to him for inclusion in the annual report for the forthcoming Annual General Conference of the NBA, scheduled for the 26th to 31st of the month.
In her response on August 7, Mrs. Oluyede indicated that such a report was not coming from her. “One cannot give what one does not have,” she said. “I cannot construct a report based on nothing. Accordingly, I am, regrettably unable to provide the report you seek hereby. “
She observed that it is common knowledge that despite being ever available and accessible, and notwithstanding her incessant pleas for consultation/involvement in matters relating to the finances of the NBA, she has been effectively shut out.
“I am not, and have not at any time in the tenure of this administration, been privy to decisions or transactions relating to the finances of the Bar,” she said, adding that the General Secretary is himself very well versed in all financial transactions, being the main consultant and co-signatory to virtually all of the Association's financial dealings in every sphere.
“A report provided by you thereon (albeit beyond your statutory jurisdiction) would be a more truthful, more authentic one than I could ever provide,” she assured Mr. Akinboro.
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