Some aggrieved Northern lawyers have constituted a new association named New Nigerian Bar Association, NNBA after pulling out of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA.
The lawyers also accused the NBA of been biased given the controversy that ensued after it invited the Kaduna state governor, Nasir El-Rufai following a petition against the governor.
In a statement, the new association said the decision of the NBA to dis-invite El-rufai has generated increased concern which necessitated their withdrawal from the association.
According to the aggrieved lawyers, the decision of NBA over the governor has exposed the inability of the association to manage and contain the heterogeneity of its members as well as their various interests.
Furthermore, it stated that the NBA is supposed to live above sentiments, regionalism and discrimination on any basis and any kind.
Also, the new association said NBA mandatory membership is against the provisions of the constitution which recognises freedom of membership of every association, as provided in section 40.
You will recall that some lawyers had kicked against the invitation extended to el-Rufai adding that he has abused the rights of Nigerians on several occasions.
Also, El-rufai has accused the Nigerian Bar Association of embracing injustice and breaching the rule of fair hearing. He said this in reaction to the withdrawal of the invitation earlier extended to him by the association as one of the speakers at the 60th Annual General Conference of the NBA.
In a statement issued by his Media Adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, El-Rufai accused the NBA of withdrawing the invitation without hearing his side of the story.
According to the statement, the governor accused the NBA of blatant disregard for the rule of law.
