NBA AGC: National Officers Accuse Maikyau of Undermining them, Lawyers Unanimously Reject Constitutional Amendments Bid
Crisis rocked the 2023 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on Thursday when national officers accused the NBA President Yakubu Maikyau SAN of deliberately undermining them.
The 2nd Vice President of the Association, Chukwuemeka Clement Ugo Esq, while presenting his annual report to Lawyers accused the NBA President, YC Maikyau SAN of not carrying him along, sidelining his office and undermining his constitutional duties.
“I have not been carried along in everything the President is doing” … the NBA 2nd VP Lamented
“The AGM should look into my plight and empower me to function as if the President and 1st Vice President is not available, I am to represent this Association and I can’t represent the Association adequately if I am not carried along on events” he pleaded with the Meeting which is the highest decision making body of the Association.
“I am not Poor, but my office should be empowered and funded to act effectively” he explained
Also the 3rd Vice President, Mandy Asagba also accused the NBA President of disregard to her office deliberate acts by the President to make her office redundant. In an emotion laden voice, the NBA 3rd vice President narrated to the bewildered lawyers how the NBA President YC Maikyau SAN has disrespected and sabotaged her office.
“The Whole Annual General Meeting and AGC was done without the Knowledge of National Officers” , the NBA 3rd VP lamented to the consternation of lawyers present at the meeting.
In a shocking moment, National Treasurer Caroline Anze-Bishop disowned the presented financial statement, saying it was prepared without her input. Anze-Bishop refused to adopt the financial report, saying she respects the Bar too much to sign off on unknown accounts.
“The Financial Reports was prepared without my singular input, I respect the Bar too much to sign an account I don’t know” .. she told the lawyers.
Attempts by former NBA President, OCJ Okocha SAN to control the situation by suggesting that the issues be dealt with by an Elders Committee was overruled by the NBA President YC Maikyau SAN who insisted that he must respond to the allegations.
In his response, the NBA President accused his fellow officers of fighting him because of his refusal to share the Lawyers Practicing Fees with them. He gave instances where other National officers conspired to share millions of Naira belonging to NBA but his refusal made them accuse him without cause.
The meeting ended abruptly owing to the chaos occasioned by the National Officers fight as the NBA President adjourned the meeting amidst Chaos and shouts from Lawyers.
Meanwhile, members of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has rejected a proposal to amend the Associations Constitution.
A constitutional Review Committee had proposed an amendment that will see the abolition of election for the office of the association’s president. The amendment also sought to abolish the office of the Treasurer.
When the NBA President, YC Maikyau SAN, raised the Amendment for discussion, the lawyers unanimously rejected it with a voice vote. The NBA President repeated the motion thrice and the lawyers chorused a thunderous no in rejection.
The NBA President ruled that the amendments stands rejected and thanks the Constitutional Review Committee for their diligent effort.
