Gadzama: NBA President & SPIDEL Should Seek BOT Mediation

The Pioneer Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association’s Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL), Joe-Kyari Gadzama, SAN, has called upon the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the NBA, particularly the Chairman, Chief Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, to intervene and resolve the ongoing leadership crisis between the NBA President and the Chairman of NBA-SPIDEL.

In a recent conversation with journalists, Gadzama emphasized the urgent need for the Elders of the NBA to step in before the legal profession is disgracefully dragged through the mud, risking the erosion of the remaining respect it commands. The learned silk had previously encouraged the NBA President and the leadership of NBA-SPIDEL to set aside their differences and seek amicable and mature ways of resolving their dispute.

Gadzama expressed his disappointment with the decision of the NBA’s National Executive Council (NBA-NEC) to dissolve the leadership of NBA-SPIDEL, despite a pending lawsuit instituted by some members of NBA-SPIDEL on the issue at hand. The NBA claimed it was not served, but the General Secretary of the NBA admitted otherwise. Gadzama argued that this action by the NBA-NEC contradicts the Association’s motto of “Promoting the Rule of Law” and may undermine the fair-mindedness of the NBA-NEC, which could be perceived as a rubber-stamp Council acting to satisfy the desires of the NBA President.

It is worth noting that under the NBA Constitution, the NBA President has the power to appoint more than 100 members of the NBA-NEC. Gadzama pointed out that, with the benefit of hindsight, no past President and only a handful of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) attended the Jos NEC meeting, depriving the meeting of additional wise counsel.

Gadzama likened the court action between the two parties to a family member suing the head of the family. He emphasized that SPIDEL serves as the connecting rod between the NBA and the public, and the activities of an organized and functional SPIDEL are essential for the NBA to effectively carry out its constitutional and statutory mandate.

Despite the matter being sub judice, Gadzama believes that the Elders of the NBA can still intervene to settle the debacle. His primary interest is to see both sides resolve their disputes, and he is convinced that through the intervention of the BOT, which has the mandate to come to the Association’s rescue during such crossroads, the warring sides can reach a progressive understanding.

While the courts are always available to determine who is right and wrong, Gadzama suggests that this legal voyage can be avoided if the NBA President and the leadership of NBA-SPIDEL submit themselves to the BOT members for an amicable resolution of the dispute. This, he believes, would better serve the profession, allowing both the NBA and the newly formed Nigerian Law Society (NLS) to join hands as co-promoters of the rule of law, cause of justice, good governance, democracy, and co-fighters against impunity, injustice, and corruption.

Gadzama stressed that the warring parties should focus more on unifying the members of the Association, working for their welfare, and not engaging in brawls that are of no benefit to the Association or the legal profession at large in Nigeria.

As the leadership crisis continues to unfold, the legal community and the public await the response of the NBA’s Board of Trustees and the potential intervention of the Elders to resolve the dispute and restore harmony within the Association.