Secession: Kanu, Igboho Polarise NBA

By Tosin Olatokunbo

The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA says due process of law must be followed by the federal government in dealing with secessionist elements in the country.

This comes amidst reactions that trailed a comment by the vice President of the association, Aikpokpo-Martins, last week, that he federal government has the constitutional right to ‘crush’ those calling for the break up of the country.

He said “Constitutionally, no President (whether he is a Buhari, Nnamdi, Babatunde, Ahmed, Osahon, Wike, Aper etc) worth his job will treat those agitating for self-determination with kid’s gloves; he is constitutionally and legally mandated and obliged to crush such people.”

But the umbrella body of lawyers in the country said it does not support the jack-boot approach to tackling the hydra-headed secession issue, following the arrest of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of proscribed IPOB and invasion of Sunday Igboho’s home, by DSS last week.

According to a statement by NBA President Olumide Akpata, the comment by his vice was purely his opinion and does not represents the view of the Bar on the issue.

He said the clarification became necessary due to the negative reactions from the public over the comment.

Akpata said “my attention has been drawn to news reports, currently making the rounds, in which the 1st Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. John Aikpokpo-Martins, was quoted as saying that the President of Nigeria is constitutionally bound to “crush” secessionist agitators in Nigeria.

“In response to the many enquiries I have so far received from members of the Association and indeed the general public, it has become necessary to state categorically that, as was affirmed in the said news report, the views expressed by the 1st Vice President are his personal views which he posted on his Facebook account in the course of an online exchange, and that the said views do not represent the position of the NBA on the subject.”

He said the duty of the Bench is to defend the law and the rights of all Nigerians.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the NBA, as an Association founded to defend the Rule of Law, will continue to champion and defend the rights of every Nigerian citizen and/or group including, inter-alia, the right to lawful and peaceful protest; the right to make lawful demands recognized under the Nigerian Constitution or international charters applicable to Nigeria; and the right to enjoy the presumption of innocence until proven otherwise by a Court of Law in a free and fair trial that accords with the basic principles of natural justice,” Akpata said.