PRESS STATEMENT
ISSUED BY THE CHAIRMEN OF BRANCHES OF NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION IN RIVERS STATE
ON THE QUERY DATED 25TH APRIL 2025 ISSUED BY THE SOLE ADMINISTRATOR OF RIVERS STATE THROUGH THE SOLICITOR-GENERAL OF THE RIVERS STATE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE TO THE CHAIRMAN OF NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION, PORT HARCOURT BRANCH
Date: 28th April 2025
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We, the Chairmen of Branches of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Rivers State, having the constitutional mandate of our respective Branches, make this Press Statement following a query dated 25th April 2025, titled: “Query for Serious Misconduct,” issued to one of us; Mrs. Cordelia U. Eke, the learned Chairman of the Port Harcourt Branch by the Sole Administrator of Rivers State through the Rivers State Ministry of Justice.
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The Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary’s query of 25th April 2025 on behalf of the Sole Administrator stated that our Brother Chairman “co-authored a communique accusing the Administration of ‘severe and brazen acts of lawlessness and impunity’ and ‘unconstitutional dismantling of democratic institutions and attacks on peaceful protesters.’ An act that is ‘unbecoming of a Civil Servant as it is a flagrant disregard to the Public Service Rules No. 100421 (b), (c) and (d).’“
Although we as Chairmen of NBA Branches in Rivers State seriously frown at such unwarranted query, our Brother Chairman has earlier today submitted her response to the query in line with Public Service Rules 100302 to 100306. The person of our Brother Chairman, Mrs. Cordelia U. Eke is presently a Director serving in the Rivers State Ministry of Justice, Port Harcourt.
The facts as stated in our Press Statement of 9th April 2025 are as a result of submissions made and resolutions reached in the meetings of our respective Branches over the appointment and actions of the Sole Administrator under the guise of the State of Emergency for which he was appointed to maintain Law and Order, and to foster peace in the State.
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Our Brother Chairman of the Port Harcourt Branch did not co-author or sign our Press Statement of 9th April 2025 or any other of our statements, in her personal capacity as a Civil Servant of the Rivers State Government but by her position as the Chairman of the Port Harcourt Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association.
This she did alongside her Brother Chairmen of the other 7 (Seven) Branches of the Nigerian Bar Association in Rivers State, to state the positions of NBA Branches in Rivers State which are in tandem with the position of the Nigerian Bar Association at the National level, as stated by our National President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN in his Press Release of 18th March 2025.
We consider the issuance of this query to our brother Chairman as unfortunate. The said query is an attempt by the Sole Administration to suppress freedom of speech and constitutional rights of the good people of Rivers State against his various incidences of dismantling of peaceful democratic institutions already in existence in Rivers State and other acts and actions capable of causing breach of peace instead of maintaining the peace which was the primary claim for his appointment as Sole Administrator in Rivers State.
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The query to our brother Chairman is nothing but a ploy by the Sole Administrator to intimidate her into discontinuing her functions and duties as Chairman of NBA Port Harcourt Branch, and an attempt to intimidate lawyers in Rivers State and by extension other good people of Rivers State from standing up and speaking against executive rascality and impunity.
It must be noted that the main objective of Nigerian Bar Association is the Promotion of Rule of Law, thus as watchdog of the society, it as our duty to speak truth to authority on behalf of lawyers and the general public and cannot be intimidated to shy away from this sacred responsibility.
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Consequently, we the Chairmen of NBA Branches in Rivers State condemn in its entirety the query issued to our Brother Chairman of NBA Port Harcourt Branch and demand an immediate withdrawal of same.
Finally, we shall continue to stand and speak against any act of intimidation, harassment, persecution or otherwise by the Sole Administrator either directly or through any of his agents against the Chairmen of NBA Branches in Rivers State, lawyers and the general public.
Thank you.
Signed:
Hilda Desmond-Ihekaire (Ph.D)
Chairman, Ahoada BranchSimple I. Dioha, Esq.
Chairman, Isiokpo Branch
Abiye A. Abo, Esq.
Chairman, Degema Branch
Dr. N. A. Duson
Chairman, Bori Branch
Dr. Celestine N. Nwankwo
Chairman, Okehi Branch
Tamunosiki A. Roberts, Esq.
Chairman, Okrika Branch
Ekeledinichukwu Ordu, Esq.
Chairman, Omoku Branch
