NBA-NEC removes SPIDEL’s leadership

….. SPIDEL leaders to be investigated.

The leadership of the Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL) has been removed by a unanimous vote of the Nigerian Bar Association’s National Executive Council (NBA-NEC).

All the court cases that the outgoing SPIDEL executives filed are to be withdrawn, according to a caretaker committee that has been constituted.

At the most recent NEC quarterly meeting, which took place in Jos, this decision was made. A co-opted member from the Maiduguri Branch backed a motion made by NBA Gwagwalada Branch Chairman Emmanuel Ogunjide, asking for the president to chair NEC meetings and approve all decisions made about SPIDEL.

The motion also demanded that SPIDEL’s suspension and leadership be investigated.

This was reinforced by other NEC members underscoring the need to uphold the recommendations.

The caretaker committee is comprised of Ben Oji of the Warri Branch, Funke Aderemi of the Ilorin Branch, Yakubu Philemon SAN of the Abuja Branch, and Eva Amadi of the Port Harcourt Branch.

They have been mandated to withdraw all court cases filed by the removed SPIDEL leaders.

The NBA NEC further proscribed the Forum of Body of Vice Chairmen and any other forum or body unknown to the NBA constitution.

Additionally, the NEC passed a vote of confidence on the NBA Executive Committee led by President Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau SAN.

Meanwhile, a member of NBA-NEC, reacting to the NBA-NEC’s removal of SPIDEL leaders, stated, “To challenge the NBA President, you need the support of 2/3 of 128 X 2 NEC members.

You must engage branch chairmen and win their support!

However, it’s important to note that the NBA President has the backing of co-opted NEC members, 98% of whom are expected to support the President’s position on any issue.

SPIDEL leadership showed enthusiasm but lacked receptiveness to those with superior strategic logic and reasoning.”

Also, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has scheduled its 2024 National Officers elections to take place on July 20th.
Maikyau had accused SPIDEL Chairman, John Aikpokpo-Martins of taking unauthorized actions beyond the section’s mandate. He consequently ordered officials to halt activities pending a meeting on February 1st.