By Desire Emmanuel
The national leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has kicked against the appointment of a former Chairman of the Presidential Pension Reform Committee, Abdulrasheed Maina, as the Grand Patron of the Garki Branch of the association.
Maina, convicted for stealing over N2 billion in pension funds, was named as the ‘Grand Patron of NBA Garki Branch’ by the Chairman of the branch, Anthony Bamidele Ojo.
The national leadership of the association said it frowned on the appointment, asking the Chairman of the Garki Branch to immediately withdraw the appointment of Mr. Maina as the patron of the branch.
Part of the statement by the NBA issued on Friday reads: “These actions portray the Chairman of NBA Garki and, indeed, any person who endorsed his putrid actions as condoning corrupt practices.
“The Bar fails in her duties to the society and the cause of justice when it condones, encourages, and or fails to take definite actions to eliminate corruption and corrupt practices.
“The Association will not, under any guise, lend its platform, name, or institutional credibility to influence public opinion or judicial proceedings in respect of cases that are sub judice or take steps that may be perceived as laundering the image of any person convicted of criminal offences. Any attempt to do so constitutes a grave violation of professional ethics and a direct affront to the rule of law.
“The NBA therefore disclaims the purported appointment of Abdulrasheed Maina as ‘Grand Patron of NBA Garki Branch’ by the Chairman of the Branch, Anthony Bamidele Ojo. The NBA strongly condemns his actions and reiterates that the Bar must use its power to stop corruption.”
The NBA added that disciplinary proceedings will be commenced against the Chairman of the NBA Garki Branch for for what it said were actions inconsistent with the constitution of the NBA, the Rules of Professional Conduct, and the core values of the legal profession.
It added that integrity, accountability, respect for the judicial process, and the preservation of public confidence in the legal profession are foundational values of the Nigerian Bar Association, adding that any conduct that undermines these principles will attract firm and decisive institutional response.
