The national executive council of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has ordered its Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL) to drop the suits against minister of art, culture, and creative economy, Hannatu Musawa, and music executive Kenny Ogungbe.
The NBA made this decision at the first quarter meeting held in Jos, Plateau State.
In a communique issued on Monday after the meeting, the NBA said it had sacked the executive committee of SPIDEL.
The NBA NEC accused the SPIDEL chairman, John Aikpoko-Martins, of engaging in activities that undermined the authority of the NBA president, Yakubu Maikyau (SAN), and the council.
SPIDEL under Aikpoko-Martins’ leadership had been challenging the decisions of government institutions and individuals in court.
Noteworthy among the cases was a lawsuit asking the court to remove Musawa and Ogungbe, citing alleged violations of the National Youth Service Corps Act.
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In another lawsuit, the Aikpoko-Martins-led SPIDEL sought to stop the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, from implementing the Central Motor Information System for vehicle owners nationwide.
Additionally, SPIDEL also approached the court to stop the Federal Government’s imposition of an annual levy for a certificate of proof of vehicle ownership in the country.
The communique signed by Maikyau and the general secretary Adesina Adegbite partly read, “The NEC condemned the actions of the Chairman of Section on Public Interest and Development Law, which undermine the authority of the President and the Council. Consequently, NEC resolved and directed the immediate removal of the members of the Executive Committee of SPIDEL.
“NEC also ratified all the actions taken by the President with respect to SPIDEL and directed that all actions filed by John Aikpoko-Martins and Funmi Adeogun, purportedly on behalf of NBA-SPIDEL, be discontinued forthwith.”
The NEC also recommended the constitution of a caretaker committee to manage SPIDEL’s affairs.
