Yakubu Maikyau, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has appointed a 15-person committee to look into the immediate and underlying causes of the tragic incident that occurred on Tuesday, August 23, when lawyers ransacked the pavilion where conference materials were being distributed, destroyed the booths, and stole bags and other valuables.
The event happened at the Eko Atlantic City in Lagos during the NBA’s recently finished 62nd Annual General Conference.
Materials for a conference were vandalised: NBA President Establishes Investigations Committee
The Nigerian Bar Association’s president charged the investigation committee’s chairman, Wale Fapohunda (SAN), the attorney general of Ekiti State, and the other committee members to also make recommendations regarding the incident while taking into account the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Nigerian Bar Association’s 2015 Constitution (as amended in 2021), and the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practise.
It will take the committee four weeks to provide its conclusions and suggestions.
Below is the President of the Nigerian Bar Association’s statement during the NBA Annual General Conference Incident Investigation Committee’s inauguration on today, September 5, 2022.
1. On Tuesday, the 23rd day of August 2022, on the sidelines of the just concluded 62nd Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association at Eko Atlantic City, Victoria Island, Lagos, an incident occurred at the venue for the distribution of conference materials. The sad incident resulted in the vandalisation of the said venue and destruction of valuables which allegedly include Conference materials, laptops, phones, and other items.
2. The conduct of our colleagues involved in that incident borders on possible violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners and other relevant laws applicable in Lagos State. It has been a source of embarrassment to the Association and raises cause for grave concern to the legal profession and to the general public; both within and outside Nigeria.
3. Recall that in my Inaugural Address on 26th August 2022, I had committed to setting up a committee to investigate the incident and identify all those who participated in that disgraceful act. Consequently, the Committee has been set up with the following Terms of Reference:
1) Investigate the said incident; the immediate and remote cause(s) of the same and identify the persons involved therein.
2) Make recommendations concerning the matters stated above, taking into consideration the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), Constitution of the Nigerian Bar Association, 2015 (as amended in 2021), Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners 2007 and other relevant legislations, policies, and guidelines.
The Committee as constituted is made up of the following persons:
1-Olawale Fapohunda, SAN – *Chairman*
2-CP Lough Simon Asamber SAN – *Alternate Chairman*
3-Oyinkan Badejo
4- Ada Edozie
5-Florence Marcus – *Secretary*
6-Mujahid Muhammed
7- Lucky Ekarume.
8-Chini Nwora
9-Adama Mohammed
10-Shehu Sani Idris.
11- Oyindamola Fashakin
12-ThankGod-Mina Hope Obeten
13-Folashade Owolabi.
14-Mrs. Toluwalope Aderiye
The Committee shall submit its Report (Findings and Recommendations) within a period of 4 weeks from the date of its inauguration or within such extended time as may be allowed by the President.
We thank the Learned *Silks* and our distinguished colleagues for accepting to serve on this Committee.
