The Executive Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ibadan branch, has sympathised with victims of Tuesday’s explosion at Bodija area of Ibadan, Oyo State capital.
The association made this known on Saturday in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Mr Oluwatobi Fatoki, Esq.
The statement said the Chairman of the association, Mrs Folasade Aladeniyi and other members of the executive committee of the Bar reached out to legal practitioners residing and practicing around the axis of the explosion.
The association reported that some legal practitioners of NBA Ibadan, including the former deputy governor of Oyo state, Chief Iyiola Oladokun, Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN) Mr Niyi Farinto, Mr Ayo Arowosafe among others, were affected by the explosion.
The executive committee of the NBA commended the swift action of the state government, security agencies, fire brigade, medical practitioners, Red Cross and others in ameliorating effects of the blast on victims.
The NBA chairman charged members of the society to always speak up and report suspicious issues around them.
“Our general conspiracy of silence and to look the other way in our country when we notice wrong and abnormal behaviours all around us is our undoing.
“As long as the matter does not affect us personally, we look away, and we are not bothered.”
Aladeniyi also urged the Oyo state government to always act on complaints received by members of the public in the interest of good governance.
Aladeniyi further urged the Federal Government to urgently look into how to bring the Mining sector under the concurrent legislative list to enable the state to initiate laws that would regulate activities of miners within their territories.
She added that the NBA was ready to render any legal assistance whenever its intervention was needed.
Also, the NBA Secretary, Mr Olakunle Akintola urged the government and security agencies not to leave any stone unturned in carrying out a thorough investigation and getting to the cause of the explosion.
“Those involved must be fished out and made to face the sanctions of the law if found guilty.
“God Almighty shall heal and restore those affected by the explosion,” Akintola prayed.
