NBA disowns Maina’s purported appointment as Garki branch patron, orders withdrawal

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has strongly condemned the purported appointment of Abdulrasheed Maina as “Grand Patron” of its Garki Branch, describing the move as unethical and damaging to the legal profession.

In a statement signed by NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, the association said it viewed with “disdain” the reported decision by the Chairman of the NBA Garki Branch, Anthony Bamidele Ojo, to confer the title on Maina, who was convicted for stealing more than N2 billion in pension funds.

The NBA said the purported appointment undermined the image of the association, mocked the government’s anti-corruption efforts, and contradicted the NBA’s commitment to the promotion of the rule of law. It also criticised comments allegedly made by the Garki Branch chairman regarding Maina’s appeal, which is believed to be pending before the Supreme Court.

While affirming Maina’s constitutional right to exhaust all avenues of appeal, the NBA stressed that it would not, under any circumstances, comment on matters before the courts or take actions capable of swaying public opinion in favour of any litigant.

According to the association, the actions of the Garki Branch chairman and any persons who endorsed them portrayed a tacit endorsement of corrupt practices, adding that the Bar failed in its duty to society when it condoned or appeared to encourage corruption.

The NBA emphasised that it would not lend its platform, name, or institutional credibility to influence judicial proceedings or launder the image of any person convicted of criminal offences, noting that such conduct amounted to a grave violation of professional ethics and an affront to the rule of law.

Consequently, the NBA directed Mr Ojo to immediately withdraw the purported appointment of Maina as a patron of the Garki Branch and to cease issuing any statements or representations in support of Maina or any other litigant in respect of cases pending in court.

The association further announced that disciplinary proceedings would be initiated against the Garki Branch chairman for actions deemed inconsistent with the NBA Constitution, the Rules of Professional Conduct, and the core values of the legal profession.