Arewa lawyers forum restates Gadzama’s adoption as sole candidate for NBA 2016 election

 
Arewa lawyers forum restates Gadzama’s adoption as sole candidate for NBA 2016 election

By Joseph Onyekwere and Godwin Dunia   |   05 July 2016   |   1:40 am

Gadzama

The Arewa Lawyers Forum (ALF), has restated its resolve that Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama, (SAN) remains its sole adopted candidate for the presidency of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) 2016.
The ALF, in a letter, which explained how Gadzama (SAN) was adopted also debunked a letter purportedly written by its Secretary, Sani Garun-Gabas, dissociating the forum from adopting Gadzama.
The letter was copied NBA president, Augustine Alegeh (SAN), Southwest and Eastern Bar Forums.

According to ALF Vice Chairman, Garba Pwul (SAN) and Assistant Secretary, T. T. Hyundu, during the build-up to the adoption of a sole candidate for the elections, the forum constituted a committee to choose between the two contending aspirants and set up the parameters for such a choice, with the consent of both aspirants and the general house in Bauchi on October 30, 2015. It said the committee sat and reviewed the candidature of both Chief Gadzama and Mr. Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN), after which it adopted Gadzama as its sole candidate.
The statement further said the forum’s Executive Committee, at a meeting on June 9 in Abuja, again voted on both aspirants and the scores were as follows: Gadzama (eight votes), while Mahmoud got (two votes) and one abstention.
“It is instructive to state that the Vice Chairman who convened the meeting on the instruction of the Chairman did not vote. It is, therefore, highly mischievous, dishonourable and an attempt to distort the truth, for the Secretary of the ALF who actively participated at the said meeting and undertook prior to voting to be bound by its outcome to turn around and deny the truth, and purport to disown the decision of the majority.
“We, therefore, urge you and your esteemed members to discountenance any correspondence or press statements by the minority in this regard, an unregistered group of lawyers called Committee of Chairmen, Secretaries and Leaders of Northern Branches or any other group for that matter”, ALF said.
Meanwhile foremost senior lawyer and former Chairman of Nigeria’s Body of Benchers (BOB), Chief George Uwechue, (SAN) at the weekend joined the deluge of endorsers of Gadzama in his quest to become the next president of the NBA.
The BOB is the foremost body of lawyers in Nigeria statutorily mandated to make policies for ensuring discipline and professionalism among lawyers.
Gadzama also received a rousing reception at Awka, Anambra State over the weekend when Bar leaders and members from both Awka and Aguata branches threw their weight behind him as their preferred candidate for the NBA presidency.
Speaking after inaugurating a new Executive Committee for Otu Oka-Iwu, a body of lawyers of Igbo extraction led by Chief Chuks Ikokwu, Uwechue said: “Chief Gadzama, I have told you before and I tell you again now that I am for you. I will support you in your quest because I know you will perform very well as NBA President.”
The Life Bencher said he was not in doubt that Gadzama will deliver on his mandate if elected, adding that the NBA would benefit from Gadzama’s experience and long-standing commitment to the Bar.
Gadzama has urged NBA President, Mr. Augustine Alegeh, (SAN) to extend the ongoing voter registration exercise due to the hardships being encountered by lawyers in updating their profiles, noting that no lawyer should be denied the opportunity to determine who leads NBA
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