Nnamdi Kanu: NBA cautions against using protest to undermine judicial, political processes

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), connected Thursday, cautioned against utilizing the Oct. 20 protestation for the merchandise of Nnamdi Kanu to undermine the ongoing tribunal proceeding and governmental solution to the matter.

NBA President, Mr Afam Osigwe, SAN, stated this successful an interrogation with newsmen successful Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Omoyele Sowore, steadfast of Sahara Reporters, had planned to organise the protestation for the merchandise of Kanu, person of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Sowore, the 2019 and 2023 statesmanlike campaigner of African Action Congress (ACC), had begun mobilisation for what helium called a planned peaceful protestation against the detention of Kanu.

However, determination person besides been ongoing calls for a governmental solution to Kanu’s trial, who is facing an alleged coercion offence astatine the Federal High Court earlier Justice James Omotosho.

Reacting to the planned protest, Osigwe said that though the NBA respects the rights of each Nigerian to demonstrate, the judicial proceedings earlier the tribunal should not beryllium undermined.

“Let maine conscionable accidental that the NBA arsenic an relation respects the rights of each Nigerian to demonstrate.

“The close to demonstrate, successful the presumption of the NBA, is portion of the rights to state of look and state of association.

“Now, having said that, I besides recognise that with respect to the taxable substance of the demonstration, determination is presently a proceedings going connected earlier the court.

“And the Nigerian Bar Association will, astatine each times, recognise that successful specified situations it becomes the work of the constabulary to supply extortion for them to guarantee that either the objection is not hijacked by hoodlums oregon that it does not degenerate and pb to breakdown of instrumentality and order.

“We indispensable equilibrium that against the contented of ensuring that the judicial processes which is going connected earlier a tribunal are not successful immoderate mode undermined.

“We bash not unwittingly, springiness an content that the judiciary cannot beryllium trusted to bash justness to matters pending earlier the courts,” helium said.

The elder lawyer said caution should beryllium exercised truthful that the proceedings is not politicised oregon the ongoing efforts to use governmental sermon are not jeopardised.

“I recognize that the leaders from the South-East, governors, leaders of Ohanaeze, etc, are presently engaging with the Federal Government astir uncovering a imaginable solution to this problem.

“And the objection should besides enactment successful specified a mode arsenic not to undermine that process and to let these governmental stakeholders and leaders of thought to negociate that process,” helium said.

According to him, the occupation with having a mob, which a objection whitethorn sometimes degenerate into, is that you whitethorn cognize astir the opening but whitethorn not beryllium capable to power it.

“I admit Sowore’s effort to spot that a governmental solution is recovered for Kanu’s continued detention.

“And I stock the sentiment that the authorities should enactment to guarantee that helium is released.

“But the process should beryllium handled successful specified a mode arsenic not to let radical who whitethorn privation to infiltrate specified a happening to escalate it to a constituent that we whitethorn not beryllium capable to power it.

“So this process that is going on; the governmental leaders who are trying to find a solution should beryllium fixed the accidental to proceed doing what they are doing, holding hand-in-hand, consultations with the authorities to find a governmental solution to the problem,” Osigwe said.

He said the champion mode to resoluteness the contented is done ongoing engagement by determination leaders, alternatively than done a protest.

“But that is not to accidental that I bash not respect the rights of those who telephone for a demonstration.

“But it is specified a delicate matter, and the processes should beryllium done successful specified a mode arsenic not to airs a information occupation oregon to beryllium hijacked by miscreants.

“I recognize the tribunal has adjourned the substance to adjacent week,” helium said, adding that things should beryllium done successful bid not to worsen the situation.

“Which I fearfulness that if a objection gets retired of hand, it could pb to that,” helium said.

Osigwe s...