AS the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) launched a N100 million endowment fund in support of access to justice interventions in the North-Eastern part of Nigeria on Friday, the association warned against involving the military and other security agencies in the forthcoming 2019 general elections.
The NBA President, Abubakar Balarabe Mahmoud (SAN), while speaking at the launching in Abuja said it would be against the overall interest of Nigerians if the military and security agencies are dragged into the murky waters of Nigeria’s politics.
According to the NBA boss, “It is unpatriotic to seek to enlist the military or security agencies in the ongoing political skirmishes.
“I also want to appeal to our security agencies and our Armed Forces to maintain their professionalism and abide by their constitutional duties and responsibilities,” the NBA President cautioned and expressed concern that Nigeria is facing major challenges of law and order and communal conflicts, noting that only few states are spared from the spiralling violence of insurgency.
“As we approach the election cycle, these challenges are likely to increase as recent events have clearly demonstrated, he said and reiterated that the NBA is a professional non-partisan organization, and therefore will remain neutral between political actors.
“We remain firm on the side of the constitution and the rule of law. We will continue to demand that constitutional boundaries must be respected and maintained by all governments and all persons in authority,” Mahmoud stated.
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He assured that NBA is determined to continue to play its modest role in the various challenges facing the country.
The fund among other objectives will be utilized by the NBA to provide long-term access to justice assistance in the North East region of Nigeria, by specifically granting financial assistance (scholarships and petty trade loans) to the surviving relatives of verified legal practitioners who have been affected by the insurgency in North East.
The NBA according to Mahmoud is currently working with other civil society groups and other stakeholders in this area, drawing from experiences of other countries in Africa.
In support of the fund, the chief launcher, Barrister Wale Babalakin (SAN), donated the sum of N10million, while chairman of the occasion, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto state donated the sum of N10 million.
Over N63 million was realised from the launching yesterday, with Tambuwal and friends donating N10 million, Bauchi state government, N7 million, Borno state government, N5million and Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN) donated N1million.
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