Date Published: 09/14/11

NBA Chairman accuses Abia Government of Discrimination in the donation of vehicles

The Chairman of  Nigeria  Bar Association, Aba Branch, Barr. Charles Eduzor has accused the Abia state government of discrimination in her recent gesture to sister Bar Associations in the state.

 Abia State government recently donated vehicles and cash gifts to Umuahia, Isialangwa and Ohafia branches of NBA, without the Aba NBA benefitting from the exercise.

 Eduzor is allegedly linking the treatment meted- out on the Aba NBA by Gov. Theodore Orji to the principled stand the Aba branch has taken on some issues in the state, particularly the appointment of the substantive Chief Judge for the state, which has set the Aba NBA on collision course with the state government.

 According to the Chairman, though the members of the Aba Branch are not worried over the development, but the action smacks of discrimination.

 Eduzor noted that with the recent vehicles donated to the other three branches, Umuahia now has two vehicles, while Aba possess only one, which was donated by the former governor of the state, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu.

  Pointblanknews gathered that the donations took place few days before the members of the branches departed for their annual bar conference at  Port-Harcourt, Rivers State.

 The Bar Chairman disclosed that before members departs for each annual conference, the state government normally assists them with some financial assistance. He also noted that the largesse is not even shared to members during the conference but after when members must have done the expenses from their pocket. He stressed that with numerical strength of Aba Bar, not much is earned by members.

 Though Eduzor maintained that the largesse is insignificant, considering the level of expenses the Bar members incurred during the conference, which he roughly estimated at between N150, 000 and N200,000, it was discriminatory for Gov. Orji to have extended the gesture to other branches leaving Aba out.

    “ The members of Aba Bar are not worried by the attitude of the government. We attended the conference fully represented. Out of the 88 Bar branches spread across the country, 5 participated in the football competition which Aba Bar was among.

“ We are not perturbed by the gesture. In fact, we are planning to buy a new bus, because we are equal to the task. Our sister Bar Associations, Ohafia and Isialangwa should even be grateful to us, because without our principled stand, they could not have gotten a bus from the government. They have benefited from our stand. ”

  On the lingering issue of appointment of substantive Chief Judge, Eduzor reiterated the Aba NBA ’ s resolve to see that due process should be followed by respecting the order of seniority in the appointment of   the head of the Judicial arm of the government.

      “ Politics should be left out in this issue. The constitution and rule of law should be respected. We don ’ t want any Chief Judge that is imposed. We want a Chief Judge we can call our own, ” Eduzor stated.