NBA Makurdi Branch Condemns Destruction Of Impounded Motorcycles In Katsina-Ala, Says It Illegal

*They Call On The Benue Governor To reverse ban on
motorcycles
*Call on members of the general public whose motorcycles are
impounded and destroyed to contact the NBA, Makurdi Branch to
access free legal services

The Nigerian Bar Association, Makurdi Branch has condemned the
destruction of Impounded motorcycles in Katsina-Ala and other parts
of Sakera area of Benue State

In a statement made available to Nairalaw signed by its
Chairman, Justin A. Gbagir, Esq., the Branch said the destruction
by security operatives is against the directives of the Benue State
Security Council and also an infringement of the citizen’s
fundamental and constitutional rights to property ownership.

The statement reads in part, “On the 29th December, 2020, the
Benue State Security Council considered the security situation in
Katsina-Ala and other parts of Sankera area of Benue State
consequent upon which it banned the use of motorcycles in
Katsina-Ala and Ukum Local Government Areas. The ban amongst others
further directed the security operatives to arrest defaulters and
impound their motorcycles.

“Consequent to the above, the security operatives, especially
the personnel of the army in Sankera axis have resorted to seizure
and destruction of motorcycles including motorcycles found in
people’s houses.

“While we commend the decision of the Benue State Security
Council under the leadership of His Excellency, Dr. Samuel Ortom,
the Executive Governor of Benue State for not resting on its orders
to ensure security of lives and properties in the State, the
Nigerian Bar Association viewed the said ban and the consequent
activities of the security operatives in the enforcement of the ban
with a pint of salt.

“We observe with concerns that motorcycles are the commonest and
affordable means of transportation, particularly in communities
like Katsina-Ala, Logo, Ukum Local Government Areas and their
environs. The ban on the use of motorcycles will naturally occasion
untold hardship to commuters and farmers who rely heavily on the
use of motorcycles as a means of transportation to access their
farms.

“We note that, the inability of the government to provide
white-collar jobs for the teaming unemployed youths, commercial
motorcycling has become a refuge for the said teaming youths in
Benue State. Some of the youths get their motorcycles through
hire-purchase, some through long-term savings. To ban the use of
motorcycles would therefore bring untold economic hardships on the
teaming youths who would naturally become idle and resort to other
unwholesome activities to earn a living.

“We further note that, the destruction of the impounded
motorcycles by the security operatives is clearly against the
directives of the Benue State Security Council. The action of the
security operatives is clearly an infringement of the citizen’s
fundamental and constitutional rights to property ownership.”

Therefore, the Branch called on the state government to reverse
its decision on the ban of motorcycles

They also call on members of the general public whose
motorcycles are impounded and destroyed to contact the NBA, Makurdi
Branch to access free legal services

“The Nigerian Bar Association whose motto is ‘Promoting the Rule
of Law’ cannot in this situation of brazen infringement on the
rights of the citizens remain mute. Consequently, we wish to state
as follows:

a) We call on the Benue State Security Council under the
leadership of His Excellency, Dr. Samuel Ortom, the Governor of
Benue State to urgently review and reverse its decision to ban the
use of motorcycles in Katsina-Ala, Ukum Local Government Areas and
their environs.

b) The Government should resort to modern technology of
providing cutting age and all-inclusive security services for the
people rather than resorting to the pre-colonial and obsolete
security practices that will rather cause untold hardship on the
people.

c) We call on the security operatives to henceforth desist from
the destruction of the impounded motorcycles.

d) We call on the members of the general public whose
motorcycles are impounded and destroyed to contact the Nigerian Bar
Association, Makurdi Branch to access free legal services against
the security operatives in order to seek redress.

“We reiterate once again that Nigerian Bar Association as a
professional body that is responsible for promoting the Rule of
Law, shall continue to advocate and insist that the Rule of Law be
a guiding principle for all governmental actions in line with the
extant laws. Anything short of that would be an invitation to
anarchy and intolerable by the Bar.” the statement reads

*They Call On The Benue Governor To reverse ban on
motorcycles
*Call on members of the general public whose motorcycles are
impounded and destroyed to contact the NBA, Makurdi Branch to
access free legal services

The Nigerian Bar Association, Makurdi Branch has condemned the
destruction of Impounded motorcycles in Katsina-Ala and other parts
of Sakera area of Benue State

In a statement made available to Nairalaw signed by its
Chairman, Justin A. Gbagir, Esq., the Branch said the destruction
by security operatives is against the directives of the Benue State
Security Council and also an infringement of the citizen’s
fundamental and constitutional rights to property ownership.

The statement reads in part, “On the 29th December, 2020, the
Benue State Security Council considered the security situation in
Katsina-Ala and other parts of Sankera area of Benue State
consequent upon which it banned the use of motorcycles in
Katsina-Ala and Ukum Local Government Areas. The ban amongst others
further directed the security operatives to arrest defaulters and
impound their motorcycles.

“Consequent to the above, the security operatives, especially
the personnel of the army in Sankera axis have resorted to seizure
and destruction of motorcycles including motorcycles found in
people’s houses.

“While we commend the decision of the Benue State Security
Council under the leadership of His Excellency, Dr. Samuel Ortom,
the Executive Governor of Benue State for not resting on its orders
to ensure security of lives and properties in the State, the
Nigerian Bar Association viewed the said ban and the consequent
activities of the security operatives in the enforcement of the ban
with a pint of salt.

“We observe with concerns that motorcycles are the commonest and
affordable means of transportation, particularly in communities
like Katsina-Ala, Logo, Ukum Local Government Areas and their
environs. The ban on the use of motorcycles will naturally occasion
untold hardship to commuters and farmers who rely heavily on the
use of motorcycles as a means of transportation to access their
farms.

“We note that, the inability of the government to provide
white-collar jobs for the teaming unemployed youths, commercial
motorcycling has become a refuge for the said teaming youths in
Benue State. Some of the youths get their motorcycles through
hire-purchase, some through long-term savings. To ban the use of
motorcycles would therefore bring untold economic hardships on the
teaming youths who would naturally become idle and resort to other
unwholesome activities to earn a living.

“We further note that, the destruction of the impounded
motorcycles by the security operatives is clearly against the
directives of the Benue State Security Council. The action of the
security operatives is clearly an infringement of the citizen’s
fundamental and constitutional rights to property ownership.”

Therefore, the Branch called on the state government to reverse
its decision on the ban of motorcycles

They also call on members of the general public whose
motorcycles are impounded and destroyed to contact the NBA, Makurdi
Branch to access free legal services

“The Nigerian Bar Association whose motto is ‘Promoting the Rule
of Law’ cannot in this situation of brazen infringement on the
rights of the citizens remain mute. Consequently, we wish to state
as follows:

a) We call on the Benue State Security Council under the
leadership of His Excellency, Dr. Samuel Ortom, the Governor of
Benue State to urgently review and reverse its decision to ban the
use of motorcycles in Katsina-Ala, Ukum Local Government Areas and
their environs.

b) The Government should resort to modern technology of
providing cutting age and all-inclusive security services for the
people rather than resorting to the pre-colonial and obsolete
security practices that will rather cause untold hardship on the
people.

c) We call on the security operatives to henceforth desist from
the destruction of the impounded motorcycles.

d) We call on the members of the general public whose
motorcycles are impounded and destroyed to contact the Nigerian Bar
Association, Makurdi Branch to access free legal services against
the security operatives in order to seek redress.

“We reiterate once again that Nigerian Bar Association as a
professional body that is responsible for promoting the Rule of
Law, shall continue to advocate and insist that the Rule of Law be
a guiding principle for all governmental actions in line with the
extant laws. Anything short of that would be an invitation to
anarchy and intolerable by the Bar.” the statement reads