Nigerian Bar Association suspends general secretary over alleged gross misconduct
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on Monday suspended its General Secretary, Joyce Oduah, over alleged gross misconduct, and was subsequently replaced by the Assistant General Secretary, Uchenna Nwadialo to act as the General Secretary pending the Pre-Conference meeting of the National Executive Council of the association.
Penpushing reports that resolution to suspend Oduah was taken at an emergency meeting of the National Executive Committee of the body, and had in attendance the embattled former scribe and 10 other members of the committee, including President of the association, Olumide Akpata.
The meeting was presided by the 1st Vice President, John Aikpokpo Martins with the association President voluntarily withdrawing to play the role, and with his exception and Oduah, nine members in attendance signed the resolution suspending the General Secretary.
Penpushing further reports that, the nine members of the committee who signed the resolution had, in a letter dated 9 August which was addressed to the President, called for the emergency meeting to address recent actions recently taken by Oduah.
The principal among the allegations levelled against Oduah was her recent unilateral withdrawal of notices for the amendment of the association’s constitution, and the constitution amendment, by the earlier notices, was meant to be considered at the association’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) scheduled to begin on 19 August in Lagos.
Penpushing also reports that the meeting explained that decision was hinged on the need to ensure a hitch-free Annual General Meeting (AGM) and to prevent Oduah from imperilling the Annual General Meeting.”
‘The National Executive Committee has unanimously exercised its emergency powers under section 9(6) (d) of the NBA Constitution 2015 (as amended in 2021) to suspend Mrs Joyce Oduah from office as the General Secretary of the Association with immediate effect pending the Pre-Conference meeting of the NBA-NEC scheduled to hold on Sunday 21st August 2022,” the resolution declared.
‘In her place, the Assistant General Secretary, Uchenna Nwadialo, was asked to “immediately act as the General Secretary pending the Pre-Conference meeting of the NBA-NEC…The resolution urged NBA members to continue their preparations for the forthcoming Annual General Conference”, the resolution stated
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