Angry Kaduna Lawyers Sack JB Daudu As NBA Treasurer Has No Idea Of Finances

Former NBA President JB Daudu, SAN

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 source in Abuja told SaharaReporters 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.

Massacre Of 34 Miners In South Africa: The Nigerian Army Threatens To Kill Electricity Workers In Nigeria

Photo credit: REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

By Femi Falana, SAN

Last Thursday was a sad day in the history of independent South Africa when black policemen opened fire on striking miners, killed 34 of them and injured 78 others. In a provocative statement issued by the Authorities of the South Africa Police Service it was claimed that the brutal attack was carried out in self-defense. But the video footage of the incident has clearly shown that the miners were running away from teargas smoke when the police engaged in the reckless shooting and killed them.
The Police Commissioner who made the callous and insensitive statement should be fired for the desperate move to cover up the heinous crime committed by the murderers in police uniform.
The cold murder of the miners is a tragic reminder of the white police firing at anti apartheid protesters and school children in the 1960s and 1970s. Now it is a police force dominated by blacks that is killing miners and other oppressed people in South Africa who are justifiably demanding for the dividend of the liberation struggle.
Instead of addressing the demands of the miners for improved wages and nationalization of the white controlled mining industry the Jacob Zuma Administration ignored the workers until the Police decided to kill 34 of them. The strike provides a golden opportunity for the African National Congress to arrest the growing inequality between a white minority of bourgeoisie joined by a tiny black elite and the majority of black people wallowing in abject poverty. President Zuma who had based his campaign on black empowerment should be blamed for the xenophobic attacks and police killing of the oppressed Africans in a free South África.
Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the killing of the miners the setting up of a commission of inquiry by President Zuma is totally uncalled for. This was the methodology of the apartheid regime to douse tension, divert attention and shield official killers from prosecution. The commission should be wound up while all the murder suspects should be arrested and charged to court for homicide. Let the Police Authorities go to the court to plead self-defense on behalf of the suspects.
In a similar situation the Federal Government of Nigeria has deployed a detachment of the Nigerian Army to the headquarters of the Power Holding Company in Abuja to deal with the unarmed workers who are demanding for payment of their legitimate entitlements from the authorities before the privatization of the company. Having collected about N300 million which was illegally diverted from the Federal Ministry of Power the Army Authorities are hell bent on flushing out the striking workers to pave way for the planned liquidation of the assets of the PHCN. As all efforts by the Nigeria Labour Congress and other interest groups to persuade the Minister of Power, Professor Barth Nnaji to end the military occupation have failed the armed troops have threatened to "deal ruthlessly" with the workers. It means that the soldiers may open fire on the striking workers any moment from now.
In order to prevent the killing of unarmed electricity workers by the armed goons the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan should order the Chief of Army Staff to end the siege. The Authorities of the Ministry of Power and the Bureau of Public Enterprises should equally be prevailed upon by the Federal Government to enter into meaningful negotiations with the striking workers without any further delay.
Femi Falana