The Body of Benchers in Nigeria explained its position in a letter from the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
Yakubu Maikyau (SAN) requested the BOB Chairman, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), not to preside over the last Call to Bar ceremonies, during which 4711 new lawyers were admitted into the profession.
The BOB frowned at the NBA president’s use of social media to circulate official documents meant for in-house communication among members of the body.
In a statement issued on Friday, the body said the letter was not debated at its December 5 meeting to finalise arrangements for the Call to Bar ceremonies because it (the letter) was delivered late at the BOB headquarters in Abuja.
It added that members failed to consider the issue when Maikyau raised it because they did not receive the letter. The Chairman, to whom it was directed, was not allowed to respond to the letter before the NBA President brought it up.
In the statement issued by its Secretary, Daniel Tela, it was stated that besides the fact that the NBA President’s letter was directed personally to the BOB Chairman, it was not an item on the agenda of the meeting, which had been scheduled since November 14.
It added that the letter had been published on social media before being received at the BOB headquarters at exactly 9:32 a.m. on December 5, the meeting day. Hence, it was not ripe for discussion.
The statement reads in part: “It is on record that the media (print and social media) have been agog with the reports regarding the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) call for the Chairman of the Body of Benchers, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), not to preside over the Call to Bar ceremonies.
“This widely circulated call has saturated the media space from Sunday, 4th December 2022 till now.
“At the meeting of the Body of Benchers held on Monday, 5th December 2022, which notice was given on 14th November 2022, the sole item for discussion was the consideration of the report of the screening committee of the Body, preparatory to the Call to Bar ceremonies.
“The report was duly considered and approved.
“Under the AOB, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association informed members that he had written a letter to the Chairman of the Body to which the Chairman stated that although he had not read the letter as it was not yet brought to his attention, he was aware of the fact that it had already been circulated in the media, particularly the social media, and that even though the letter was personally addressed to him and not to the Body, he was prepared to waive his rights as he would want it discussed one way or the other given the contents of the letter which centred on his personality and integrity.
“The NBA President then stated that he sent the letter to members’ emails in the evening of Sunday, December 4, 2022, and also made copies of the said letter and brought them to the meeting but the majority of the members responded that they were yet to receive such mails.
“Some members believed the letter was not ripe for consideration, assuming it was meant or addressed to the Body.
“The letter was received at the Body of Benchers Secretariat at 9:32am on Monday, 5th December 2022.
“Despite all the comments and contributions of members, the Chairman still passionately pleaded that the matter is taken, and referred to a previous letter written in July 2022 on the eve of Call to Bar ceremonies.
“Majority of the members were of the view that the Chairman drop his insistence that the matter is conclusively decided, bearing in mind several factors, including the fact that majority of the members did not receive the email, coupled with the fact that the Call to Bar subject was too important and central to the Body and the content of the letter was not such that could be taken under the AOB.
“Furthermore, the letter was addressed to the Chairman, Body of Benchers; therefore, the Chairman’s response must be received for proper consideration.
“It was, therefore, resolved that the matter be taken at the emergency meeting of the Body scheduled to take place in January 2023 at a date to be communicated to members.
“Thereafter, the motion for the adjournment of the meeting was moved.
“The Body frowned at the use of the social media platform to forward sensitive official documents and communication.
“I have been directed to issue the above statement following the repeated calls made seeking information on the conduct of the Call to Bar ceremonies and the position of the Body of Benchers on the call by the NBA for the Chairman, Body of Benchers to recuse himself from presiding over the ceremonies.
“To the glory of God, the Call to Bar ceremonies were successful,” the statement said.
