At least 720 legal practitioners and members of the general public have signed an online petition seeking to compel the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to expunge the name of Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai from the list of speakers at the association’s forthcoming conference.
The online petition comes amid widespread criticism of el-Rufai’s alleged poor handling of the killings in Southern Kaduna.
In the petition created by a lawyer, Usani Odum on Change.org, the petitioners suggested Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum as a better replacement.
Odum wrote, “The senseless killings in Southern Kaduna must stop!! The political correctness of Gov. El-Rufai on national TV is diversionary.
“It is a reversal to have him speak to lawyers on security, when Gov. Zulum of Borno (is) a better person to do so.
“We may not be able to do anything to stop the killings, but we can stop the Gov. from speaking at the NBA-AGC to show our disapproval of the manner he has handled the situation!!”
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Other speakers expected at the 60th NBA Annual General Conference include Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo SAN; Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike; Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila; Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Mohammed.
Other key speakers include former President Olusegun Obasanjo; former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu; Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami SAN; President of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA), Brian Speers; and Director of Training at the Judicial Institute for Africa, Hon Dame Linda Dobbs.
The Herald can report that the conference would be held virtually.