From GODWIN TSA, Abuja
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has distanced itself from the eight-member presidential panel set up to advise government on the Bakassi reclaim exercise neither was it consulted to examine the case before a decision was taken on the matter.
Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke (SAN), had announced that the clamour by Nigerians, particularly, the Bakassi indigenes, to appeal against the judgment of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which ceded the oil-rich Peninsula to Cameroon in 2002, was not in the best interest of the country.
According to the minister, the eight-member presidential panel set up to advise government on the Bakassi reclaim exercise examined the case with regard to requirements of Article 61 of the ICJ Statute and observed from the oral presentations made to it by supporters of the review of the ICJ judgment that such presentations would not meet the strict requirements of Article 61.
He spoke further: “This is because their presentation was unable to show that Nigeria has discovered a decisive fact that was unknown to her before the ICJ judgment, which is capable of swaying the court to decide in its favour. This is more so as most of the issues canvassed for in support of the case for a revision of the ICJ judgment had been canvassed for and pronounced upon by the ICJ in its 2002 judgment.”
But reacting to the development yesterday, President of the NBA, Okey Wali (SAN), disclosed that his association was sidelined by the Federal Government. So, it was not in a position to evaluate the quality of the fresh evidence that was produced for the purpose of appealing against the judgment.
The NBA president, who spoke at the inauguration of the NBA Working Group on Strategic Planning, said: “NBA was not part of the Presidential Committee on the matter. So, we are unable to tell what quality of fresh evidence that was produced by Nigeria for the purpose of reviewing the judgment of the ICJ.”
“So, whatever decision the Federal Government has taken on the matter, we are not in a position to say otherwise because we are not ceased of the facts and were not part of the presidential committee set up to examine the fresh evidence.”
Moreover, the body of lawyers condemned in strong terms, the alarming rate of insecurity in the country, especially the recent killings of over 40 students of the Adamawa State Polytechnic, Mubi, and the barbaric murder of four university students in Rivers State.
While calling for the arrest and prosecution of perpetrators of the dastardly acts and their collaborators, the association reiterated its call for the establishment of state police, holding that the present system of policing had failed.
On the surging national flood disaster, the NBA called on government at all levels and private organisations to join hands in providing relief for Nigerians, who have become internally displaced due to the menace.
The NBA, on its part, said it had issued an emergency alert to all of its 100 branches and over 70,000 active members to render critical assistance as may be desired to all victims of the flood disaster.
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Medicine after death, how can NBA said there were not consulted? Are there not Nigeria? Are there not being reading papers? New that everything has gone wrong they are now coming out to say there were not consulted what they have done?
Medicine after death, how can NBA said there were not consulted? Are there not Nigeria? Are there not being reading papers? New that everything has gone wrong they are now coming out to say there were not consulted, what would they have done?
Failed nation.
Mr President, it’s unfortunate you could not hear the cry of your people over ceding Bakassi to Cameroon. Your advisers must have advised you that currently Nigeria is too large to be governed by one president. History will definitely repeat itself because Benin Republic, with the facts at hand, will certainly demand and take over Lagos, Chad will equally demand and take over Maiduguri if not the entire Bornu State, and Niger Republic will follow suit for Sokoto. Let nobody dispute these areas for them. Then, Nigeria might be governable by one person and justice will be said to have been done.
The problem with Jonathan is that he often depends on stale ideas from those working for him–the Nigeria media is also to blame-they lamely went out of their way to interview Cameroonians in abuja-what type of rubbish is that? all I know is that those who stole the nation blind handling that case did not want us to go back to the case–we have had experts from Nigeria advice us on what to do-that our chances are very high- but the thieves and the woman in Jonathan would not hear of it-the AGF gave us the most stupid reason for not going after the case-Nigeria is a sham-she has no reputation to protect around the globe
I agree completely with your view
What reputation has nigeria to protect in the first place afterall what have they to loose for appealling after spending over £13b for about 40yrs on the case and it is now they want to protect or earn foreign ‘respect’ who send nigeria sef?, useless and coward AGF mohammed adoke, posterity will never forgive U.
NBA just tell us that u were not given money.what is patrotism if i may ask?must u be given special invitation to be patrotic?nonsens!
Can one believe NBA statement? In an organized society where there is love for ones country, it is the NBA who should have spear headed the call for the review of ICJ decision.For NBA to come now to tell us that it was excluded in the decision not to appeal for review, is dishonesty and shameful. It allowed the old guards who raped the nation to prevail over the wishes of 140 million Nigerians
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Okey Wali, Your N.B.A. should have been more proactive and altruistic. You necessarily didn’t need an invitation. What has happened to nationalism and patriotism? Hey guys, don’t insult our sensibilities!
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The judgement of i.c.j that favoured cameroon was a complete court order and can not be uwisely politicised in the instrest of democracy and not to embarase the political position of (A.U). Nigerians should allowed the spirit of brotherhood to prevail because it is clearly Africa matter as Nigeria is respected as peace maker on the continent. The only options are (a)purchase the area, the way U.S possessed Alaska from russia (b)use the political leadership of A.U to pursues it future intrest (c)convince cameroon govt on economy agreement that Nigeria will exploit the oil resources for the benefit of the region. The Father of Democracy-former president obasanjo was hundred percent innocent on the matter. So anybody who blames him is an anti-Africa
Nigeria can win or reclaime the oil rich bakkasi pennisula back only if I.C.J will introduce bribe, that is if they can accept bribe from nigeria because i think through it nigeria can win any case against any nation even against i.c.j itself so as they can mention any amount.
When the ICJ gave the ruling ten year back where was NBA…even at that…where was NBA in the past four year that they suddenly realized that FGN had grounds to appeal the ruling of ICJ? Is the agitation not similar to what Ken Saro-Wiwa stood for and was prosecuted for and was eventually hung? Like THE NOON’s opinion let Nigeria negotiate and buy back Bakassi sign a MOU with Cameroon. Show solemn expression of intent to acquire the land for the benefit of Africa not for Nigeria alone. This is another window of opportunity for the Ita Giwas to exploit.