NBA Restates Zero Tolerance for Corruption

The Nigerian Bar Association friday restated that it would not condone corruption and corrupt practices amongst lawyers in its fold.
President of the NBA the umbrella body of Nigerian lawyers, Mr. Augustine Alegeh SAN stated this at the Association’s quarterly National Executive Committee meeting in Jos, Plateau State.

Alegeh said: “The war against corruption is raging on several fronts. The NBA restates its zero tolerance for corruption as well as its commitment to working with federal government and all willing agencies to contribute its quota to the battle to kill corruption before corruption kills Nigeria.
“We must also stress that the war against corruption must be fought within the ambit of the law and rule of law must at all times be given primacy. The war against corruption can be won within the ambit of the law. There is no need to resort to any other means other than legal means to win the war against corruption.
“There appears to be the need to draw attention to the essential elements of a proper trial in accordance with Law. There must be a Prosecution and a Defence. If one is absent there cannot be a fair trial.
“The duty of the Prosecution is to Prosecute not persecute. The prosecution has a duty to the temple of justice to bring all facts before the Court even if some may aid the defence. Where the prosecution is found to have withheld any such evidence, any conviction obtained is liable to be set aside. The duty of the defence is to present the defence of the Defendant and not to make up a defence for the defendant. Where this happens, counsel risks disciplinary sanction, if reported.
“I have laboured to draw attention to this position in view of the erroneous view being wrongly peddled by some persons that lawyers in defending persons accused of corruption are aiding corruption. Far from it. Counsel has a duty and is trained to prosecute or defend. Whichever position they may take they are carrying out legitimate duties and cannot be wrongly classified as persecuting or aiding corruption. It is laughable that an agency of Government would retain Counsel to prosecute persons accused of corruption but frown at Counsel representing such persons. What is good for the goose is also good for the gander.’
Speaking on the state of the nation Alegeh told the gathering of NBA-NEC members that the association took the human rights of Nigerians very seriously. The NBA President had led a team of top lawyers to Miaduguri in December to investigate allegations of human rights abuses against the Nigerian military.
In January, he also led another delegation of some NBA past president, branch chairmen and national officers on a fact finding mission to Zaria where there were allegations of human rights abuses after the violent clash between the Nigerian Army and members of the Shiite Muslim group. He said the NBA as the watchdog of the society would not derail from that responsibility.
The Association he said would in April, organise a two day workshop to review the performance of Election Petition Tribunals at all levels; Trial Tribunals, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.
The Workshop according to Alegeh would be organised in collaboration with the Judiciary and it was aimed not at criticising any persons but at reviewing the performance of lawyers and judicial officers with a view to ensuring better performance, going forward.
This would be the second time the NBA is organising this workshop. The 1st workshop was held by the JB Daudu led National Executive in Benin-City, Edo State and was acclaimed to be successful.
On the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), Alegeh said: The NBA is working with key Petroleum Industry actors to have a workshop on the PIB. This Workshop would be held in Abuja in March, 2016.
“This conference has become inevitable as efforts to pass the PIB have resumed at the NASS. We take the view that the NBA can collate the position of various actors in the Industry and compare same with the version presented by FGN [NASS]. Thereafter NBA having the benefit of the views of all concerned parties can then fashion out a PIB based on international best practices and standards.”, he said.
It was noted that “The efforts of FGN and the Nigerian Security forces are beginning to yield positive results. The Boko Haram Insurgency is fast waning but the battle is not yet over. We commend the efforts so far and urge Government not to relent.
“The economy of our country seems to be in dire straits. The exchange rate mechanism appears to have collapsed. The current exchange rate of the Dollar changes every minute. At the last check, it was N365 to $1. In our import based Country this is extremely dangerous. At the current collapse rate of the Naira, a regime of N1000 to $1 is looming ever so close. We call on H.E President Muhammadu Buhari to act fast to address this problem”.



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