Deborah: Civil Disturbances In Sokoto Will Endanger Legal Practitioners Attending NBA-SPIDEL Conference – Falana SAN

Renowned Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Human Rights Activist, Femi Falana SAN has lent his voice to the growing calls for the call off of the NBA-SPIDEL Annual Summit scheduled to hold in Sokoto State from the 22nd to 26th of May, 2022.

In a statement sighted by The Lawyer, Falana argued that recent civil disturbances in the state in the aftermath of the arrest of the principal suspects in Deborah’s murder will endanger legal practitioners who would be attending the summit.

He wrote; “Yesterday, Deborah Yakubu, a student of the Shagari College of Education, Sokoto in Sokoto State was hacked to death while her corpse was set ablaze by a group of religious extremists for allegedly insulting Prophet Muhammad (SAW). At the end of the barbaric incident the police arrested and detained the two principal suspects pending investigation and arraignment in the Sokoto State High Court.

This morning, gangs of arsonists and assailants staged violent protests in Sokoto State to demand for the unconditional release of the detained murder suspects. As the illegal demand was ignored by the police thousands of armed protesters attacked innocent people and burnt churches and properties of suspected Christians. As the security forces drafted to contain the crisis were overpowered by the armed protesters the Governor of Sokoto State, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal was compelled to impose a 24 hours’ curfew in the State.”

The Learned Silk who had earlier called on the State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal to take drastic steps to curb the growing level of religious tolerance in the state, also said; “In view of the widespread civil disturbances which have paralysed social life and other activities in the State it is crystal clear that the lives of law abiding citizens including members of the legal profession cannot be guaranteed until further notice. There are fears that the violent protests may spread to neighbouring States. Therefore, the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association should call off the SPIDEL Conference scheduled to hold in Sokoto State from May 22-26”.

Since the murder of Deborah Yakubu, some lawyers and prominent Nigerians have called for the cancellation or relocation of the NBA-SPIDEL Conference.

Some of them include Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa SAN, Ernest Ojukwu SAN, Prof Chidi Odinkalu and Oby Ezekwesili who have all confirmed that they will not be attending the summit if it goes on to be hosted in Sokoto.