The Nigerian Bar Association has disowned and distanced itself from the public statement credited to its 1st Vice President, Mr. John Akpokpo-Martins that the President of Nigeria has the right to crush seccessionist or separatist movements and agitators in Nigeria.
In a counter-statement addressed to members of the Association, the President, Mr. Olumide Akpata, says that the statement credited to the 1st Vice President are his personal opinion which does not represent the official position of the NBA at all.
Akpata says the NBA will continue to champion the cause of rule of law in the country,, including the right of people to lawful and protest and the right to make lawful demands recognized under the Nigerian Constitution or international charters applicable to Nigeria.
“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.
“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 concludes.