’22 NBA-AGM UPDATE: Constitutional Amendment Placed In Abeyance As Suspended GS, Oduah Shows Up

*NBA 1st VP, Aikpokpo-Martins Gives Update On Inibehe Effiong’s Detention
*Akpata Promises Delivery Of Conference Bags To Locations Of Lawyers Of Those Who Didn’t Get During AGC.
*Court Order Shows Reason For Setting Aside Ratification of Suspension of General Secretary
The much awaited and controversy causing Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Bar Association held today at Eko Atlantic Hotel, Victoria Island.
As expected, several talking points have emerged from the meeting including the proposed constitutional amendments, the incarceration of human rights activist, Inibehe Effiong, the distribution of conference materials amongst others.
Notably, the suspended General Secretary of the Association, Mrs Joyce Oduah was visibly present at the annual meeting of the Bar.
Mrs Joyce Oduah at ’22 NBA-AGM : Photo credit: kubwaexpress..com
Mrs Oduah whose travail is said to have begun when she sent out a notice few weeks ago cancelling the proposed constitutional amendments from the agenda of the NBA Annual General Meeting was present at the venue of the meeting.
Meanwhile, the NBA has stepped down its proposed constitution amendments. Akpata had earlier told the meeting that there are many areas of the NBA constitution in need of amendments. He expressed regret that the meeting would not proceed with the amendments to the constitution.
“As ministers in the temple of justice, I proposed that we step down constitution amendments”, he said.
He thereafter asked for a voice vote on the issue and the lawyers replied tulmutuosly ‘ayes’. There was no dissenting opinion on the issue.
The NBA President , Olumide Akpata at the Annual General Meeting informed members of the difficulty the Association may face in proceeding with discussions on the Amendment owing to a pending suit by Victor Nwaugo Esq who he described as a close associate of the embattled NBA General Secretary Joyce Oduah.
The NBA AGM resolve to suspend discussion on the Proposed amendment until court cases are resolved.
Also speaking on the issues surrounding the distribution of conference materials, Mr. Akpata promised to ensure that every Conferee gets the conference materials.
He said “Every lawyer who doesn’t get conference bags at this conference will have them delivered to wherever location they are”.
Briefing the Annual General Meeting on the incarceration of human rights activist and lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, the 1st Vice President of the Association, John Aikpokpo-Martins, informed the gathering that due process expected in a contempt charge was not followed. He made this known while presenting his report to the largest Annual gathering of lawyers.
Meanwhile, the Certified True Copy of the Federal High Court order setting aside the ratification of the suspension of Mrs Joyce Oduah as General Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association by its National Executive Council has shown the basis of the ruling of the court.
According to the CTC , the Court set aside the ratification by the NBA-NEC because it was done when the Plaintiff’s Motion for interlocutory injunction was still pending.
The NBA and its National Officers have however appealed the said ruling of the Court and equally filed Motions for Stay of Execution of the Ruling.
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