Some prominent members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) have warned the Federal Government on the legal and moral implications involved in the reported deal it had with the family of the late Gen. Sani Abacha.

They spoke at the association’s just ended National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held in Onitsha, Anambra State.

In his welcome address, the Onitsha branch chairman of the NBA, B.C. Igwe, pointed out the position of law on such under-the-table understandings, saying that “it seems that the government tried to find an easy way out over monies siphoned from our treasury and salted in foreign banks, but there is no pleasant way of doing a good job.

“Moreover, under our criminal code, a person, who receives or assists another, who is to his knowledge, is guilty of an offence, in order to enable him to escape punishment is said to become an accessory…” he stated.

Igwe pointed out that since the key function of “the association is the promotion of the rule of law, and when agents of the law and criminals seem to walk hand in hand, the Bar should cry, ‘Havoc’!”

The state governor, Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju, who is also a lawyer, described the judiciary and what it stood for as indispensable.

Represented by Chinedu Emeka, the governor made specific reference to “appreciable and commendable” reactions and contributions of the Bar on burning national issues like the resource control, electoral act, the assassination of former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Bola Ige, anti-corruption acts, etc, which he claimed have helped to move Nigeria forward.

Similarly, the secretary of the branch, Chuka Obele-Chuka, noted the exception of the association to reported case of official victimisation of Justice Nkem Izuakor and threats to her life, which was reported to the Inspector-General of Police.

He also said that all the branches would meet to deliberate on the governor’s directive that before anyone is made a judge in the state, that he must give a written undertaken that he would not grant interlocutory order against the state government.

Chuka described it as an invitation to chaos and anarchy if allowed. On the closure of courts in the state due to strike over non-payment of salaries, he said it was “very serious and disturbing.”

“We intend to meet the governor on the matter immediately this NEC meeting ends, because police may not be able to cope with arrests and detentions,” he stated.

The lawyer said that it was indeed worrisome that a part of government with its own yearly budgetary provisions and allocations should now be allowed to be or remain at the mercy of the executive!

Also, a former Works and Transport Commissioner, Chuks Nsobundu, lamented the untold scenario in the state.

He advised the government to prioritise its activities and called on the Federal Government to rescue the states because the same obtained in other states.

Nsobundu agreed that the state had done well in security “but salary is fundamental because of its chain effect in each family” and debunked rumours that he was sacked when his mentor, Sir Emeka Offor, fell out with the governor.

He maintained that he willingly left the government.

Chuks Collins, The Guardian (Nigeria), July 11, 2002