Chairmen of the eight branches of the Nigerian Bar Association in Rivers State have condemned a query issued to its Port Harcourt branch chairman, Cordelia Eke, by the State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, (retd.).
Recall that Ibas had, through the Director of Administration, Rivers State Ministry of Justice, Ebiriemg Deresima, dated April 25, accused Eke of ‘serious misconduct’.
He alleged that Eke co-authored a communique criticising the administration for “severe and brazen acts of lawlessness and impunity” and for actions deemed unconstitutional, including the dismantling of democratic institutions and attacks on peaceful protesters.
The State Sole Administrator claimed that the actions of the Port Harcourt NBA Chairman, who is a Director in the State Ministry of Justice, violated the Public Service Rules and were unbecoming of a civil servant.
But, in a joint press statement issued in Port Harcourt, the NBA branch chairmen described the allegations as an attempt to intimidate Mrs Eke and stifle dissenting voices among legal professionals in the state.
The press statement was signed by Chairman, Ahoada Branch,
Dr Hilda Desmond-Ihekaire; Chairman, Isiokpo Branch, Simple Dioha; Chairman, Degema Branch, Abiye Abo; Chairman, Bori Branch, Dr. N. A. Duson, and Chairman, Okehi Branch, Dr. Celestine Nwankwo.
They clarified that Eke did not issue the controversial communique in her capacity as a civil servant, but rather as the elected chairman of the Port Harcourt Branch, in line with her constitutional mandate within the NBA.
They argued that their collective statements — including the one referenced from April 9th- were issued following formal deliberations within the association and reflected the position of all NBA branches in the state.
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 further 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 asserted their duty to uphold the rule of law and vowed not to be silenced in the face of intimidation.
The statement reads, “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.
“It must be noted that the main objective of the Nigerian Bar Association is the promotion of the rule of law thus, as watchdog of the society, it is our duty to speak truth to authority on behalf of lawyers and the general public and cannot be intimidated to shy aware from 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.”
It continued, “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. ”
They reaffirmed their commitment to resist any harassment or persecution targeting NBA leadership, lawyers, or the wider public in Rivers State.
Punch
